Open your Eyes

‘Open you eyes’ by Prongs 69
*Authors note* These events are past events , and we will be going back a while to see were and how and why our two heroes ended up like this*

Prologue …. 9 years earlier…..

FLASHBACK

// “I want to go with you, to help you,” Hermione said quietly as she buried her face in his neck.

“No,” Harry answered emphatically. “I don’t know what’s there- what will happen. I will not risk anything happening to you. No .”

“Harry, please.”

“NO.”

Oh, God. Will it ever not hurt like this? Like it just happened?

// “I can’t… I can’t do this Mione. It’s too hard.”

“You have to Harry. It’s your destiny. lives depend on you. On all of you.

“But my life depends on you,” he answered, his voice barely audible.

“Mine too,” she said as she tightened her embrace. // ‘‘come back to me‘‘? Please?

//(kiss) “I will love you forever,” Harry said as he gazed into her eyes.

(kiss) “Me too.”

(kiss) “I will never forget you Hermione.”

(kiss) “Me too.”

(kiss) “I promise you, as soon as I can, I will come back to you.”

(kiss) “You’d better,” she replied as her eyes began to fill with tears.

(kiss) “Count on it ,” he said as he caught her falling tears with his lips.

// “You wore my favourite sweater,” Harry said as his hands reached out for her.

“It’s my favourite too. You gave it to me.”

*And now on with the story*

Chapter one---- Legacy
Her fingers searched blindly for the ‘alarm off’ button as she came awake. How is that possible? Don’t they know- doesn’t everyone know- what today is? She had dreaded going to bed the night before because it meant she would awaken to today. Not that there weren’t other days in the year that brought back bad memories- her parents death at the hands of death eaters when she was 18 was always difficult- but today? The one day all year she allowed herself to feel it. Today held a special kind of torture for her. Why couldn’t they just remove this date from the calendar? Would anyone really even miss one day?

Her mind started racing, as it always did on this date. Back to that day. 9 years ago. A boy & a girl. Overwhelming love. Gripping fear. Total, utter loss. The feeling of death but worse because they were still alive. The day he left her.

“MUM! MUM!! TELE PHONE.”
“All right,” Hermione answered. “I’m coming….hello?”

“Morning Hermione dear, glad to hear you’re up and about.”

“Morning Molly; no chance I could sleep through this day, right?”

“That is why I’m calling my dear, you don’t need to. Arthur and I are going to take you out to dinner tonight.”

The last thing she felt like doing was socializing with anyone, even Molly and her husband Arthur, whom she considered to be family.

“No Molly, thank you anyway, that’s really sweet but I am really not into it.”

“Of course you’re not, which is why you’re going. You need to think about something else besides…”

“That’s not going to happen, Molly. No matter where I am or what I’m doing I’m going to think about it.” ‘’About him’’…..

“I know, Hermione, I think about it too, but it’s been 3 years, we have to look to the future, right?”

The future? Easy for Molly to say. She was Teflon- well, almost. Ron’s leaving had been devastating to her also; she was just able to move on with her life after awhile, convinced Ron would eventually come back home…. Something Hermione never fully mastered.

“Hermione? HERMIONE! Are you still with me?”

“Oh- sorry Molly- what were you saying?”

“I was saying that if you reflect on some of the good things that have happened in the last 9 years, like your son…”

“I know, of course, he’s been what’s kept me alive.”

“Hermione, don’t say that. You are loved by so many.”

“I know, I know. Just a pity- day for me. I’ll snap out of it. Don’t worry.”

“You’ll snap out of it at dinner tonight. We’ll pick you up at 7. No excuses. I have to run- can’t be late for work twice in one week, even though I’m not the owner, it still doesn’t look good. I love you.”

“I love you too. Thanks Molly. For everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.”

“Alright dear‘’. See you at 7.”
-----------------

“Morning Mum.”

She leaned over to kiss the top of her son’s head as he sat at the kitchen table. “Good morning sweetie”.

“Want some cereal?”

“No thanks Ben- especially if you’re fixing it”.

On her way to work, her mind started to wander again.

“Arthur!!’’, sorry I didn’t see you there

“It‘s fine Hermione- oh- you are coming to dinner with us tonight, right? I have to warn you- Molly isn’t going to take no for an answer.”

“Does she ever? No, I’m coming- but just to spare you her wrath!”

“Thanks Hermione, you always have been my saviour regarding my wife‘’…

Hermione laughed. She loved Arthur; when she had met him at Kings cross all those yrs ago & she knew he’d be a great pillar of strength . Arthur and Molly been married for almost 30 years now.

“We’re picking you up at 7- don’t be late, or Molly will go spare !” Arthur said.

“OK- I’ve got to run- see you later,” Hermione said as she hurried off to class.

The day passed relatively smoothly, other than her dropping a goblet and forgetting what she was lecturing on mid-sentence once. Not bad, considering some years past when she was unable to even get out of bed on this day.

When she got home there was a note on the table. “Mum, I’m at Aunt Ginny’s be home around 9.” She went through the mail, then into her room to change. She thumbed through her closet looking for something to wear. “Hmm, no, no, maybe….” Then her hand brushed over a short red sweater.

Well, not wearing red tonight. Nope.

They picked her up at 7 sharp and made their way to the new Gryffinn restaurant Luna had heard about from one of the parents who worked at The Quibbler.

Butter beers were ordered and Arthur and Molly both did their best to keep the mood light. They were all laughing at one of Molly’s stories about something one of the kids had done that day. Arthur watched the two of them giggling and smiled, marveling as he always did at their friendship. They were as close as sisters. Not surprising considering what they’d been through . . Hermione’s parents died in a death eater attack two months later. The two became closer than before & Molly started caring for Harry & Hermione’s’s son while Hermione went to college.

“OW!” he exclaimed as a spoon hit him in the forehead.

“Oh, I’m sorry Arthur, I was aiming for that pot!” laughed Hermione.

“Well, you’re never going to play for the Chuddley Cannons, Hermione, that’s for sure.”

“I’m a Annan Arrows fan Arthur. I wouldn’t play for the Cannons if you gave me a million Galleons.”

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem!”

Hermione handed Molly a slip of parchment

// “What’s this?” Molly questioned as she looked at the parchment.

“It’s the deed to your new daycare center,” replied Hermione with a huge smile on her face.

“WHAT?” Molly and Arthur said in unison.

“I bought it for you. I had the money left from parents inheritance, and I thought this is what they would’ve wanted me to do with it.” ‘’Harry would have wanted it also’’

Molly immediately protested. “No, Hermione, we can’t possibly accept this.”

“Yes, you can. She left me their house and enough to put us both (she gestured at her son) through college. I’ve held onto the remainder because I knew that eventually, she’d lead me to do the right thing with it. And this is the right thing.”
“Hermione, no.” Molly said.

“Molly, you are one of my closest friend- no- you are my family. You helped me to raise my son. You have been with me through the darkest times of my life. You are wonderful with children. You will be great at this. I want to do this. Please. It’s a thank you. From both of us,” she finished, pointing again at her son.

“Oh my god, Hermione, you managed to make her speechless. Thank you,” Arthur said.

“Hermione, are you sure, you could use that money.” Molly was still apprehensive about accepting such a large gift.

Molly stood staring at the deed, then looked at Hermione and then at the deed again as her eyes filled with tears. “I love you both so much” was all she could croak out, before a group hug took over. //

“OK girls, I think you’ve both had enough butterbeers for one night. Come on, I’ll put you both into the apparrition spot.” Arthur linked arms with both of them, and the three of them walked outside ..

They dropped Hermione off at the same time her son was getting home.

Hermione walked inside the house behind her son. “So honey, did you have a good time with Aunt Ginny huh??

‘’Yes mum I did. We played a lot of games and talked about Dad again’’….

“I’m going to go to bed now mum. Goodnight, Mum, I love you.”

“Goodnight baby, I love you too.”

OK, she thought as she climbed into bed, she had made it through the day in one piece. Only 364 more days until she had to do it again. As she closed her eyes, she hoped that at least her dreams would leave her in peace.

*Flashback*
His hands moved slowly under her sweater. He wasn’t going to rush anything this time. It was going to be their last time for who knew how long. Maybe forever.

“You are so soft…” He watched her face as he moved his hands higher, hearing her breath catch as his thumb ran across her nipple causing it to harden instantly. He smiled as she pulled his face towards her for a kiss.

“And your lips are so sweet…”

His hands were still moving, now on her back running up and down her spine making her shake in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss. His hands came up and tangled in her hair, and he whispered “I love you so much” before lowering his lips onto hers. Their connection opened immediately with the contact and they were swept up in the tidal wave of emotions running through each of them. Fear, desperation, but most of all, love. So much love. The kiss seemed to go on forever, both fearing that if they stopped it would be time for him to leave. He moved his lips down her throat and upon reaching her shoulder his tongue slid out and moved over her skin.

“You taste so good…”

Her breath quickened and she ran her hands into his hair. He had only kissed her twice and she was already melting into a puddle in his arms.

She stepped slightly back from him and started to lower the zipper on the front of the sweater. Her eyes watched as his followed the zipper down until it was fully opened. He looked at her with such intensity that if it had been anyone else, she would have been uncomfortable. But never with him. Her only one. His look was so full of desire and acceptance and love that it only made her want him more.

His hands moved to slide the sweater off of her arms and it fell softly to the floor. He started to reach out to touch her when she pushed his hands away and began to pull his T-shirt up. As his arms went up over his head and his sight was blocked by the shirt covering his face, she flicked out her tongue over his nipple. His shocked gasp made her laugh softly. “Now you know how it feels,” she whispered. He pulled the shirt over his head and pulled her to him as he began to kiss her with burning need. Her fingers ran over the muscles of his back and down to the top of the waistband on his jeans where she let them rest. As he pulled his mouth off of her he bent her backward over his arm and ran his tongue down her throat to her breast. As his mouth covered her she began to moan his name. The sweetest sound in the world to his ears. The love of his entire life, moaning his name in ecstasy. Nothing would ever sound better.

During this assault his free hand moved down her side and he began to lightly run it up and down the back of her leg, just to the hem of her skirt, where he would reverse direction. She was fast becoming limp in his arms so he picked her up and carried her to the bed, gazing into her eyes and getting lost in the love pouring out to him. He attempted to climb onto the bed when she held up her hand. “Pants” was all she had to say. They were gone in a second.

He climbed onto the bed and kneeled over her, reaching out a hand to smooth her hair. She grabbed his hand and pulled him down so he landed on her hard.

“Mione! Be careful, I’ll hurt you.”

“Harry, I need to feel you, everywhere, please….”

Hearing the desire in her voice he dove in to take her mouth again. He began to run his fingers over her neck, across her shoulders and down her arms until he reached her fingers. Taking her hands in his, he moved her arms to rest above her head and trailed his fingers back down her arms, back to her neck, over her chest to her breasts. He began to alternate touching and kissing her on every inch of skin he could find, all the while murmuring his love for her. Her moans filled his ears and swelled his heart, propelling him lower. While he watched her face he began to lightly run his fingers under her skirt up her inner thighs, causing her to arch toward his hand and open her legs wide. He undid her skirt and pulled it off with her panties, drinking in the sight of her. He kissed his way over her abdomen to her dark curls, and he paused just long enough to whisper “I love you Mione” again before he let himself taste her.

“Hhhhhaaaaarrrryyyyyy….” Her hands came down to grope for his head to pull him further into her, but he grabbed them and held them down on the bed on either side of her hips. She began moving her body and moaned louder and louder until he grasped her hips to still her, wrapped his lips around her clit and licked her hard. Her screams bounced off the walls as she came, and he moved up over her to hold her as she rode out the waves crashing over her. As her eyes opened, she ran her hand down his body until she found him hard and ready. She began to slowly stroke him, watching his eyes slowly close to half-mast.

“Harry, I need you inside of me. Now.”

He didn’t need to be asked twice. Their joining caused them both to groan with relief and she immediately reached to pull him tightly against her, seeking out his lips. Kissing Max was always overwhelming to her, but to kiss him while they were making love was to catapult her beyond any feeling or emotion she had ever experienced. With each movement he brought her closer to her climax until he sensed she was at her breaking point. He took her face in his hands and waited until she was looking up at him.

“mione. My Mione.” At the sound of his voice she dug her nails into his back cried out. As she began to still she opened her eyes to find him gazing at her still.

Moving her hands to cup his face, she breathed out “Harry. My Harry.”

The effect was the same. With a loud moan he began to shudder with his release.

They lay joined together for a long time after, touching, kissing, not needing words.

She awoke slowly, not wanting it to end. Her most precious memory. The night they had made their son.

Copyright Prongs 69 2007

*Open Your Eyes* By Prongs 69

Chapter 2: The learning curve

“Morning Ben, ready for some pancakes?”

“I love it when your classes start later in the day, I get to eat!” her son enthused.

“Me too. I get to feed you. And clean up after you. And wash your clothes,” Hermione replied playfully as she set a plate filled with pancakes in front of him.

“Mum, I’d be happy to help with the laundry but you didn’t seem to like the way I did it the last time.”

“Well, if the clothes had come out of the washer the same colour they had gone in, I might consider your offer, but for now, I think I’ll man the household appliances,” she said jokingly.

“You have no sense of adventure Mum.”

// Oh Benedict, if you only knew.

Knew what Mum?

BEN!! How many times do I have to tell you not to connect in with me unless you “announce” yourself?

“Sorry.” //

Their connection had started as soon as he had been born. The first time she held him she could feel his emotions and she knew he could feel hers. As he grew it deepened, until now they were almost like two parts of one mind. People always marveled at how close this mother and son were, and especially at how devoted Ben was to her. Hermione was clearly the most important person in the world to him and he would do anything for her. That devotion had revealed his developing powers to them more than once. When he was about seven years old, she had come down with a nasty bout of wizard flu and was wretchedly ill. Ben was despondent, not being able to bear anything unpleasant happening to his Mummy. On the third day, while he was applying a cold compress to her fevered head, his eyes found hers as his hands lay on her forehead. Suddenly they both felt the heat under his hands and they were drawn into it. When it ended they both stared at each other in amazement.

“Ben, I think you healed me.”

“WHAT?”

“I feel fine now. It makes sense. Your father had the same gift. He never knew at first .

She had always been honest with him about his father and his destiny, why he had to leave, that he- they- didn’t know she was pregnant when he left. That there was always the possibility he would return. That he was intelligent, gentle, kind, and the most wonderful man she had ever known. And that Ben looked exactly like him.

Earlier in his life Ben loved to hear about his Dad. It gave him comfort to know that he might return one day, and he would get to meet someone else like himself. Someone who was different. Special, his mother would correct him. . The person who gave him life and protected it with everything she had. She had devoted her life to him- she was at every practice and game he ever had, usually with Molly and Arthur in tow. Every school event- she was involved. She spent a great deal of time researching and planning a summer vacation for them every year, and they travelled extensively together. She never dated; By her choice.

Because she was waiting for him. And he hated him for that.

How could he leave her behind? Why didn’t he ever return for her- or at least make some kind of contact with her? Didn’t he know that she was spending her whole life waiting for something that was probably not going to happen? Didn’t he care at all?

“So I, uh, know that yesterday was your yearly day of pain. Are you OK?” Ben asked.

“Yes, honey, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“OK. I have to run or I’ll be late- see you later Mum. I love you.” He couldn’t say much more to her about it because his loathing of his father would be apparent, and it upset her too much. He didn’t want to hurt her.

“I love you too. Have a great day.”

“Thanks, you too.”

A quick kiss goodbye & she was off to get ready for work.

=================

‘’Professor Granger‘’!
Headmistress McGonagall was heading towards Hermione with great haste.

“I have to tell you something. I’m helping the minister get the word out- the Wizengamot are calling a special meeting tomorrow afternoon regarding the latest school incident. Apparently they want to go over the schools response plan with us again. It’s a mandatory attendance.”

“Oh, OK, no problem, i’ll be there,” she said.

“Good. Now I just have to find one more person- the new DADA professor, Prof. Linton. And I’m late for my next class…”

“Headmistress McGonagall, the DADA rooms are in my wing, I’d be happy to inform him,” Hermione offered.

“Oh, . Hermione , that would be great. Thank you so much- I’ll see you both tomorrow afternoon.”

Hermione walked down the hall to Prof. Lupin’s old room. Seeing a man unpacking some things on the lecture table she assumed it must be the new professor.

“Hi, I’m looking for Prof. Daniel Linton?”

He turned to greet her. “Hi, I’m Dan Linton. Can I help you?”

Yes, she thought. Restart my heart. She stared at him, thinking this had to be the best looking guy that the school had ever hired. Dark hair swept back. Full, rosy lips. A killer body that couldn’t be hidden by his clothes. And his eyes. Big, green soulful eyes that you could get lost in. She hadn’t seen eyes like that in a very long time.

“Can I help you?”

He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

“Oh… sorry…” She was stammering now. She had been so surprised at her own reaction to him that she temporarily forgot why she was there in the first place.

“Hi, I’m Prof. Granger. Hermione Granger. I’m the Transfiguration professor here.

“Oh, hi.”

“Hi.”

OK, you idiot, she thought to herself. Speak! You do it all the time!

“Um, so, the reason I’m here, uh, why I came looking for you, is to tell you that there is a mandatory meeting for all staff tomorrow afternoon. About school violence. Here. At school.”

Great, she thought. I have a wizarding degree. and I sound like I can’t construct a sentence.

“Oh, thank you. I’ll be there. Oh- where, exactly?” Prof Linton asked.

“At the Ministry of Magic. Do you know where that is?”

“No, I don’t. I just arrived here two days ago. I’m still trying to find my way from the entrance hall.”

“Well, if you’d like, you could come with me. Neville- Prof. Longbottom- he’s the Herbology Professor - also my friend- you could come with us.” Hermione could feel her face flushing as she tripped over her words.

“OK, great. Thank you very much.”

“No problem. We’ll come by here tomorrow around 4.” No problem at all, she thought.

“OK, tomorrow, 4 o’clock. Got it. Thanks again,” he said with a bright smile.

She left his room in a daze. What is this, she thought? I haven’t noticed a guy in 9 years. Why did this one make me go all stupid? She suddenly couldn’t wait for tomorrow afternoon.

He grabbed a chair and sat down quickly, drawing in gulps of air to try to slow his heart rate. He had been totally unprepared for that. He had tried desperately to keep it together while she had been standing in front of him, had she noticed? Thank God he had changed his appearance before he started at Hogwarts. All of his plans would’ve gone right out the window.

The next afternoon Hermione and Neville came by to get him. “Hi, Dan, this is Prof. Neville Longbottom. Neville, this is Prof. Daniel Linton.”

“Hi Dan, welcome to Hogwarts. How are you finding things so far?”

Dan shook his hand. “OK so far, but I’ve only been here a few days; I haven’t even seen all of my classes yet. But everyone seems really nice.” He smiled unconsciously at Hermione as he added the last part. Neville caught it immediately.

“Yeah, we’re a decent bunch. We do a lot of social things together, with our wives and families. Are you married Dan?”

Hermione groaned to herself. Oh God, she thought; he must have told Luna there was a new person on the scene. He must have received his instructions and she knew what was coming.

“No, never married, no kids.”

“Where are you from?” Neville continued.

“Originally Wales, but I’ve spent a lot of time travelling. That’s why I was available to take a job mid-Term. I just returned and had waited too long to apply for any teaching positions for the beginning of the year, so I guess you could say I was lucky when I received the call to come here.”

“Wales, you say?
Yes but I have been away a long long time..I was, held up, if you will…

“OK, guys, we’re here, we’d better go in,” she said. Thank God, Hermione thought;

After the meeting was over the three of them walked towards the antrium together.

“Well, I’d better get a move on. Luna will be waiting anxiously.” Neville smirked at Hermione as he said this, knowing full well that she understood what Luna was waiting to hear about.

“Luna?” Daniel queried.

“Oh, yes, my wife Luna. Hermione here introduced us back in school. So she has only herself to blame.”

“Ha ha ha Neville. Just remember, what comes around goes around. You’ll get yours.”

“Instant kharma’s going get me, eh? I’ll take my chances. Hey- I have an idea, Luna and I are going to check out the new Wizarding inn on Langthorne Street on Saturday night. Why don’t you both come?” Luna would be proud of me, Neville thought. Maybe after all of these years watching her trying to match-make for Hermione, maybe some of it had worn off on him. He couldn’t help it though, he had watched them both steal glances at each other the entire meeting.

Hermione couldn’t believe her ears. Did Luna somehow take possession of Neville for a minute? Was he actually trying to set her up with Mr. Gorgeous, ah, Dan?

“That sounds great, Neville, I look forward to meeting your wife,” replied Dan.

“Great Dan; so Hermione, are you in?”

She glared at him as she said yes.

“Great, well I know I’m going to make someone very happy tonight, and if she’s happy, I’m happy, you know what I mean?” He waved goodbye to them as he made his way to the apparrition point.

“This is my stop,” she said to Dan as they came to the end of the row.

“Oh- mines right over there- OK, well, I’ll guess I’ll see you Saturday night. If I don’t see you around here first.”

“OK, see you then.”

She was going to kill Neville.



The rest of the week passed uneventfully with Hermione spending most of her free time trying to help Ben with his oral report. They were reviewing it late Saturday afternoon when the an owl came flying in . Ben jumped up to grab it.

“Oh, it a letter from Aunt Luna.. Oh… She has a dinner date with the new DADA Prof tonight ‘’…as do you…….

“Luna has a date with Daniel?

“Uncle Neville told me that you are going to dinner with them and some new professor and she wanted me not to let you back out of it. She figured you’d try to use me as an excuse.”

“I don’t believe her. What does she think, that I’m going to use you as a shield?” Hermione said, feigning indignance.

“Well Mum, considering that you’ve asked me like, three times if I want to work on this with you tonight when I told you a bunch of us were going to the Arrows play offs with Grandpa Arthur, I kind of have to believe she knows what you’re capable of.”

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“Mum, you never go out. Especially on a date. I think you’d use just about any way you could think of to back out of a date.”

He knows me entirely too well, she thought. “First of all, this is NOT a date. He is new at school, DADA professor by the way; and Neville, not Luna set this up to introduce him to Luna.”

“And why would Uncle Neville care if he met Aunt Luna?” He couldn’t help but grin at her; he knew Aunt Luna was right, she’d even use him to avoid going out.

“I think the dryer is done…” She escaped before he could say anymore. Damn. She thought she was going to get away with saying she had to help him with his project. She should’ve known Luna would go and enlist his help; Luna was aware of his feelings towards his father and that he wished his Mum would go out more. Now she was stuck.

“Mum?”

“Yes Benedict?”

“Have a good time. I hope you like him.” He kissed her cheek before he ran out the door.

“Be careful! And be home by 9pm… I love you!”

“Me too Mum, see you later.”

Well, I guess I’d better find something to wear, she thought.

They were all to meet at the restaurant. She arrived at the front of Georges shop. She crossed the road made her way in and spotted Daniel at the bar.

“Hi, are we early? I thought Luna said 7,” she said. God this guy is gorgeous she thought. OK we know you think that Hermione, she thought to herself; now attempt to have a conversation with him so he doesn’t think you’re a total headcase.

“Hi. No, it’s 7, maybe they’re just running late?” said Dan.

“Luna is always on time. She’s like a general. She has to be- she owns a newspaper office. She’s the most organized person I know. Never late.”

“Well, maybe it’s Neville’s fault.”

Hermione started laughing. “Oh, believe me, Neville is ready 15 minutes BEFORE they’re supposed to leave. He knows better.”

They passed the next 20 minutes in pleasant conversation, discussing mostly things to do with work. They were laughing at something Hermione was relating about a Transfiguration gone wrong when Luna and Neville arrived.

“Finally! I was starting to freak out. You are never late,” Hermione said as she hugged them both hello.

“Oh yes, Hermione, you looked like you were freaking out when we came in. Hi, I’m Luna.” She turned to extend her hand to Daniel and exclaimed “oh my God.”

“Hi… um, I’m sorry, do I have something on my face?” Dan asked, slightly embarrassed.

“No, no, no, I’m sorry, it’s just… you have beautiful eyes.”

Dan cast them towards the floor as he muttered “thank you.”

“Dan don’t mind my wife; she’s still reeling from being late. It’s not a normal occurrence in her life. Kind of made her loopy.”

“I think our table is ready,” Hermione said. Finally, I’m starved she thought.
Neville immediately grabbed the wine list after they were seated. “So, Dan, do you have any preferences? The girls are on a Pinot Grigio kick of late, I prefer Merlot, so we’ll let you decide.”

“Oh, thanks, but I don’t drink.”

“Oh, OK, well I guess we’ll take a bottle of Beringer for the ladies, and I’ll have a glass of Merlot, please.” He handed the wine list back to the waiter.

Luna wasted no time in interrogating Dan. She didn’t get very far, though. His answers were kind of vague, and he always managed to turn her questions for him into questions about the rest of them. He figured her out fast, Hermione chuckled to herself. Smart, good looking, nice personality…wait, what was she doing; this is just a nice guy trying to meet some new people. He doesn’t need some woman from work drooling on him and making him uncomfortable. Besides, someone who looks that good probably doesn’t have any trouble meeting women. He probably doesn’t even notice me, she thought.

She thought wrong.

“OK, I am going to the restroom. Neville, would you order for me please?”

“Sure honey.”

“I’ll go with you Luna, we can hold each other up,” Hermione giggled.

After the girls had left the table Dan looked at Neville. “So is Hermione seeing anyone? You know, a boyfriend?”

Neville shook his head. “No, Hermione doesn’t date. Well, except when Luna forces her to. But that’s another story. No, no boyfriends. Just Ben.”

His eyes widened. “Ben?”

“Yes, Hermione has a 9 year old son named Benedict. Great kid. He’s the closest thing I’ll ever have to a son. He is Hermione’s whole world.”

His head was spinning. She had a 9-year-old son. Named Benendict. Oh Merlins staff.

Neville spotted the girls making their way back to the table. “I was just telling Dan about Ben, Hermione. Oh hey- he’s interested in DADA too. He still wants to advance in it one day , right Hermione?”

“Yes, he does. Maybe now that we have a new DADA department at school he’ll think a little more seriously about going to Annan.”

“Oh, he wants to go somewhere else?” He couldn’t help but ask, he had to get as much information on this new Ben as possible.

“Yeah, he’s thinking about it. I don’t want him to, of course, but I don’t know how much influence I’m going to have on his decision.”

Luna shook her head. “Come on Hermione, you know that your opinion is his main concern. I’m betting that not only doesn’t he leave Hogsmeade to go to school, but that he doesn’t leave home. He’s going to go to a school in Scotland that he can commute too. He won’t leave you Mione.”

“Well, considering that a major in DADA is offered at a limited number of schools, I hope you’re right, because I want him to stay home. Big surprise, I know.”

“That’s OK Mione, I understand, he’s been the only male we could count on in our entire lives.”

“Hey!!” Neville piped up.

“Oh honey, and you too, of course. You too,” Luna said.

“Make her pay for that Neville. She deserves it.” Hermione wanted to get her back for being late- a ploy to get Hermione to talk to Dan for awhile, it turned out. Luna had spilled the beans while they were in the ladies room.

“I know better than to go there, Mione. I don’t want to spend the next few nights sleeping on the couch.”

“So let’s change the subject. So Daniel, do you have a girlfriend? Boyfriend?
Significant other?” Hermione rolled her eyes at Luna’s questions and poured herself another glass of wine. Luna was relentless, so she was going to need it.

“No, no girlfriend. I haven’t really had the time.”

“Haven’t had the time? What, has every good-looking human declared a moratorium on dating? Or did you just go to the Hermione Granger school of bad dating luck?” Luna was chuckling at herself as Hermione put her head in her hands.

“Luna…”

“Come on Hermione, I’m sure Dan would love to hear some about some of your better dates.”

“Luna!”

“So you’ve had some duds, huh?” Dan said, looking over at Hermione. He couldn’t believe that was possible. A woman as beautiful as Hermione Granger should have men falling all over her.

Luna gladly spoke up again. “Duds? That’s the understatement of the day!”

Oh, this is going down the tubes quickly, thought Hermione. “Excuse me, but considering the fact that you set me up with the last three of them, I think you should tread lightly.”

“Hee hee, well let’s see what you think Daniel. The first one…”

“Wait a minute. If you are going to embarrass me about this, I’m going to tell the story. At least it will resemble the truth.”

“Oh, go ahead Mioneee! This should be good,” Luna stage whispered to Neville.

“OK. Three dates ago. Thirty-nine year old wizard who still lived with his mother. He had never moved out. No thanks.”

“Picky picky…”

“Shut up, it’s my turn to talk. Two dates ago. Interesting guy. Well read, seemed to have a lot of financial acumen. I thought he was a bit pale when I met him at first. Turns out he hadn’t seen the sun in a few years. Why was that again, Luna? Oh yeah- he was a convicted felon- insider, trading dark art artifacts.”

Dan started laughing and shaking his head. “Oh wait, it gets better,” said Neville.

“The last one,” Hermione said, sighing as she continued. “Seemed like a nice guy, sharp dresser, very well mannered, incredibly well manicured hands.”

“What was his problem?” Dan asked.

“He was, how can I say this, GAY.”

At this Dan, Neville and Luna doubled over in hysterics.

“Oh, I’m so glad my misery is amusing to you all,” she said as she started to laugh too.

“Hey, you should really thank me for the one who was a criminal, it’s what inspired you to start kick-boxing,” Luna said.

Dan looked incredulous. “You? A kick-boxer? Are you serious?”

“Not only is she a kick-boxer, Dan; she’s a damn good one. Don’t piss her off or she’ll put you in bonds!! Neville loved to tell people that little Hermione Granger was a killer at heart.

“Well Hermione, you can’t just expect to meet Mr. Right when you only go out on a date once every 5 years. You have to get out and circulate!” Luna said.

“Been there, done that, met him, look where it’s gotten me.”

“So, you met you Mr. Right already?” Dan couldn’t help but ask.

Luna jumped in. “That was a long time ago, a long long time ago..

Open your Eyes by Prongs 69


Chapter 3
After dinner over coffee, Neville inquired to Hermione if she had been able to find a tenant for her apartment yet.

“No, not yet. Everyone that’s applied so far has been unacceptable. They’re either smokers, or they too many have pets, or they don’t want to live above their landlord- this has been the longest I’ve ever gone without having a tenant.”

“You are renting out a apartment?” Dan asked quickly.

“Yes, actually it’s a furnished apartment attached to my house. Why, do you know someone who might be interested?”

“Yes, actually, me. This teaching position came at me so fast I wasn’t able to find a place before I started working. I’ve been staying at the Leaky Cauldron but I need a real place to live.”

Luna piped up “Oh perfect! How’s that for luck? And you could even travel together to work!”

Hermione wasn’t sure about this. They worked together. Did she really want that close living proximity to someone she worked with? Not to mention that she’d be the landlord? She turned to say something to him and found his eyes staring into hers.

“Uh, yeah, sure, why not.” Excuse me, who just said that? Was that me?
“Oh, maybe you want to see it first before you accept?”

“No, that’s OK, I’m sure it’s fine. I really just want to get out of the Leaky Cauldron. Too much noise late at night, if you get my drift.”

“OK, well, if you’d like to come by tomorrow you can see it & start moving your stuff in,” Hermione said.

“Oh, perfect. This is so great, thank you so much Hermione. I was planning on spending tomorrow driving around town looking for a place. This is great. Thanks.” Dan was thrilled with this sudden development.

“Sure, hey, we’ll both be making use out of each other- I mean, you need a place, I need a tenant.”

“Oh, I couldn’t have sorted this this better myself, even if the Nargels had assisted” Luna whispered to Neville.

They made arrangements for him to come over around 11 AM the next day and they all parted company.

Ben was waiting for her when she got home. “Hey Mum, did you have a good time?”

“Yes, I did. How about you? Who won the game?”

“We did, 70-65. Then aunt Gin took us to get pizza. So did you like him?”

He was going right for the kill, she thought. “He- his name is Dan- he is very nice. And he’s coming over tomorrow to check out the apartment so you’ll get to meet him if you’re here around 11.”

“Yeah, I should be here. Aunt Luna’ must’ve loved hearing that he may move in here.”

“Yes, it didn’t go by her, let’s just leave it at that. Night sweetie, I love you.”

“Night Mum, I love you too.”

Ben shut off the living room lights and made his way to his own bedroom. He had a strange feeling in his stomach- must be the pizza he thought absently.
After all he was new to all this Muggle food…..
Or was it??? A keen sense of foreboding drew him into a restless sleep that night….


Dan arrived in front of Hermione’s cottage a little past 11 AM. Nice neighborhood, he thought. Located on the edge of Valentine Glenn, it was in a great location; her cottage was only a few houses away from the water. He stood there for over 10 minutes as he looked around the grounds. Looks like she’s a gardener, he thought. Rose and hydrangea bushes not yet in bloom, and a multitude of tulips and daffodils dotted the landscape; bird houses and feeders were hung in the trees. Not a house, he thought, a home.

She came out of the front door smiling. “Hi, glad you were able to find it.”

“Oh, your directions were exact. No problems.”

“Good. OK, well let’s go up and you can take a look at the place.” She opened the door again and called inside. “Ben, when you’re done, come upstairs please.”

An “OK” drifted outside. They made their way up the back stairs to a large deck and went inside the sliding glass doors.

“Oh, wow, this is nice. And really clean,” Dan said as he admired the room.

“Well, I’m kind of a clean freak. I don’t expect you to keep it perfect, but I do appreciate it being kept up. No bugs or anything creepy crawly, you know?”

“Don’t worry, I’m actually a bit of a clean freak also. Oh, I can see the water from up here,” he said as he caught the view from a window.

“Actually in the winter, you can see a lot more when all of the leaves are down. It’s really pretty. So, what do you think?”

He turned & smiled widely at her. “It’s perfect. I’ll take it.”

“Great! You can move your stuff in whenever you’d like,” Hermione said, more enthusiastically than she had meant to.

“Well, I don’t have much except a few suitcases of clothing. I’d like to spend tonight here, if you don’t mind. The Leaky Cauldron was rocking last night, and I’d really love to get a normal nights sleep.”

“Oh, sure, no problem. Let me get you the key & then we’ll discuss money… oh, sweetie, I’m glad you came up; this is Prof. Daniel Linton. He’s going to move in this afternoon.”

“Hi, Prof. Linton, I’m Ben,” he said as he extended his hand.

“Hi Ben, and please, it’s Dan.”

“OK Dan, it’s nice to meet you. Glad that Mum found a tenant; it’s been empty a few months. She’s a little picky,” her son teased.

“Why does everyone think I’m picky? Because I know what I want & don’t compromise my beliefs?” Hermione placed her hands on her hips, waiting for his answer.

“Only kidding! So, Mum tells me you’re an DADA Professor?”

“Yes, and she told me you were considering majoring in DADA in school,” Dan answered. So, this was Ben, he thought to himself. He couldn’t stop the smile that had unconsciously spread across his face.

“Yeah, I am. If I can get into a good school,” Ben answered.

“You’ll have no problems getting into a good school, sweetheart. They’ll be lucky to have you. Ben is an advanced honour student,” Hermione added in Dans’s direction.

“What kind of other classes are you taking? They usually look at grades quite hard, because studying the DADA involves unending calculations. Have you had owl type tests yet?” Dan asked.

“Yeah, I’m actually taking advanced Runes& Arithmancey now.”

“He’s a whiz. Just not a public speaking whiz,” she teased him.

“Oh, I hate public speaking too,” Dan said.

“But you’re a professor!” Ben said incredulously.

“Yeah, but half the time I can just tell them to go out and spar and see what defensive spells come tp mind, so it’s not too bad.” They all laughed at Dans’s statement.

“Well it was very nice to meet you Dan, but I have to get going,” Ben said. Looking at Hermione he said, “I’m going to Keelans’s, Mum; they want to run through the report from beginning to end one last time. I guess they want to know if I’m going to be able to make it all the way to the end.”

“You’ll do fine. Be home by six for dinner. I love you.”

“I love you too. Dan, I’ll see you around,” Ben said as he extended his hand.

“Nice to meet you Ben; I’ll see you soon.”

Hermione spent the afternoon puttering in the garden while Dan returned with his suitcases.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said you didn’t have much,” Hermione said as she surveyed his things.

“Yeah, like I said, I traveled a lot and it was just easier to pare my belongings down than to drag them from place to place.”

“I love to travel too. Every summer Ben and I go for a few weeks to discover someplace new. Where have you gone?”

“Oh, near and far. So you like to garden, huh?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I love it. It occupies my mind and the result is so beautiful. And it’s good exercise too.”

“Well, your yard is beautiful. It’s very peaceful here.”

“That’s exactly what I was going for. Oh- listen- if you’d like to join Ben and I for dinner your welcome to; I’m making Chicken Fahita‘s. My son loves spicy food.”

“That sounds great. I was just going to grab a meal from the leaky again . I love spicy food also; the spicier the better, usually.” The smile had returned to Dan’s face in full force.

“Great. Come on down around six.” My God, it should be illegal for someone to have a smile like that, Hermionethought.

Ben came home & immediately noticed she had set the table for three. “Mum? Are we having company?”

“Sort of. I invited Dan down. He couldn’t resist when I told him I was making jerk chicken.”

“Oooh, my favorite. I hope he likes hot.”

“I warned him and he said he does. We’ll see if he can stand up to your asbestos tongue, though. Would you heat these up for me, sweetie?” she said as she handed him a basket of rolls.

“Sure Mum.” He waved his hand over the basket & steam began to rise up as the doorbell sounded.

“Oh, that must be Dan at the door- go let him in, please honey?” Hermione said over her shoulder.

“Hi Dan.”

“Hi Ben. Oh man, it smells great in here,” Dan said as he followed Ben into the kitchen.

“Mum is a great cook. She makes the best cajun chicken you’ll ever have. I hope you like spicy.”

“The more the better. Hello Hermione, it smells delicious.”

“Thanks. Sit down guys, it’s ready.”

As she served them, Dan asked “so, your parents . What did they do? They were dentists. I really didn’t learn to cook until I had Ben, necessity being the mother of invention, so to speak.”

“So do your folks still run their dentistry?’’

“Mum’s parents died when she was 18. A rogue group of death eaters took hold after the downfall of Voldemort and struck one day….“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude,” Dan said apologetically.

“No, it’s OK,” she said. “It happened almost 10 years ago. My biggest regret is that Ben never got to know his grandparents. They would’ve loved him.”

“Wow, then you were young when you lost your parents,” Dan mused aloud. She’s been through so much, he thought; how had she managed to stay sane?

“Yes, I was. That was a year in my life I really would rather forget. Except the part where I had Ben, of course,” she said as she smiled towards her son.

“So how do you like the chicken Dan? Too spicy?” Ben inquired.

“No, actually if it wouldn’t offend the cook I’d like some of that soured cream of yours.”

“Oh please, go right ahead. Ben puts that stuff on everything; I’m used to it,” Hermione said.

“Thanks. It really is delicious- and sure beats a a meal from the Leaky!”

“I’m glad you like it. Oh Dan- may I ask a favor of you? Ben is having trouble with the settings on his telescope- I knocked it over while cleaning- would you mind looking at it after dinner?” seeings as you said you loved astronomy too’’

“Sure, no problem.”

As Hermione cleaned up, he went with Ben to check out the instrument. She came in to find them discussing something on roster

“So, did I do irreparable harm?”

“No, Ben said it’s just a broken lens and he used the reparo charm but we also need an adjustment screw and he thinks he has the parts at school; he said he’d bring them home tomorrow if he can find them,” Ben said.

“Oh good, I’m glad. What are you guys looking at?”

They spent the next hour or so discussing the universe and the stars before Dan stood up to leave.

“Thank you for a wonderful meal. I really enjoyed it.”

“Thanks for coming. And for looking at the telescope; I thought I might have to buy him a new one,” Hermione replied as she walked him to the door.

“No, it shouldn’t be a big deal to fix.

They found that four out of five days they could apparate in together. Hermione was happy to share the travel and with someone. She was especially happy it was he. What’s the deal with me? she thought as she readied herself for bed. I need to relax.

Ben sat at his desk doing some homework. He liked this guy, he thought to himself. Maybe Mum would too. I’m going to have to talk to Aunt Luna & Aunt Ginny about this.

He wouldn’t have to.

Dan fit right in with their little group. He pitched in to help with yard work or when Hermione needed something done Quidditch several nights a week, usually while Hermione was working out on the punching bags and weights she had set up in the loft. Truth be told, Dan probably wouldn’t play that much Quidditch if it wasn’t for the fact that Ben was attached to the broom every chance he got … Hermione worked out with the overhead attic doors open. He had missed more than a few shots through the hoops due to this distraction.

Neville and Luna really liked him and felt that he was a great addition to Hermione’s household. Luna was in overdrive attempting to engineer a relationship between Dan and Hermione. Hermione was in overdrive trying to get Luna stop.

One evening while the guys were playing Quidditch and Hermione was pummeling the bag the floo network opened. “Hello? Ms Granger. Hello. It‘s Hannah Abbott? Could we meet at your earliest convenience? I have a proposal for you Hermione’’ …

“What Mum? Who was that?” Ben asked, trying to catch his breath.

“It was Hannah Abbott, Ben. She wants to meet with me. I only assume that it is regarding the proposals I requested for the new intakes for the winter term….
‘’Oh. Need to organize a sitter for you sweetie too. Ginny is away right?
‘Hermione’’…. ‘’Hermione’’….Dan waved his hands in front of her face
‘’Hermione I’ll take Ben with me, it’s no problem’’

“Dan, are you sure you wouldn’t mind? I don’t want to impose on you,” said Hermione.

“Hermione, I don’t mind at all. Why don’t you go to the Ministry of Magic this week- if you take them the proposed proposals , they should be able to tell you how much time you’ll need.

“Oh, this is great. Let me call Luna and Neville right now.”

On Friday at 8:45 AM they were all in the Antrium of the M.O.M discussing where to begin.

“Well I think since we’ll be up on the scales as to where the proposals will take place & maybe we should start with the intake and we can do about staggering it’’..

“Sure, go for it. First one done buys lunch.”

“In that case I’ll be presenting my case slowly and methodicly slowly,” joked Neville.

They moved along quickly once everything was set up and lunchtime rolled around before anyone realized it.

“Well, I guess I’m buying,” said Hermione as she finished her last section. “What does everyone want- steak and ale pie or try one of tom’s new subs?”

“Subs” was the unanimous decision, so Hermione packed up and headed off to pick up the food. When she returned she found Luna chasing something invisble around the antrium armed with a very large keep net.

“Mione! Stop her please! She’s on a rampage!” Neville called out as he raced past her.

“Sorry Neville, I have no desire to get more run downs on the mating rituals of Nargels again Neville. Here Neville, here’s your sub. Where’s Dan?”

Neville began to laugh. “He was Luna’s first victim. “All right, I’m going to go up & let him know lunch has arrived.”

She climbed the stairs and crossed the floor to the sliding glass doors. She stopped dead in her tracks as the view inside became clearer.

Dan had his back to the doors and was looking through some Paper work. But it was not what he was reading that caught her attention but what he was doing whilst he was leafing through the paperwork… Dan decided it would be better if he changed his shirt and robes due to the fact that Luna decided to spray him with a horrible stinking potion so called to try and attract the Nargels…. And here in front of Hermione stood a perfectly sculpted physique. Muscles everywhere, seemingly multiplying as he moved. Her eyes traveled down to his waist, then lower as she admired his tight muscled thighs. Well, that’s not exactly what she was admiring.

Suddenly he turned and caught her staring at him. She turned scarlet red as she saw him move towards the door, grinning at her. Oh man, he looks even better from the front she thought as he slid the door open.

“Hey Hermione, did you want something?” he asked, amused at her embarrassed expression.

Oh yes. “Um, yeah, no, I mean, I just wanted to let you know that lunch is here.”

“OK, I’ll be right down,” he said, still smirking.

She turned & ran down the stairs. OK Hermione, could you BE any more obvious?
---------------
Hermione was exhausted. They had managed to finish both the plans and all the proposal work by dinner. After a long hot bath she crawled into bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She was alone in her study at Hogwarts cleaning up strays bits of parchement at the end of the day. A tap on the door made her look up, but she had known he was coming even before he got there. She ran to the door, threw it open and jumped into his arms. Kisses covered her face as he carried her back inside and sat her on a table.

“Hi”, he said smiling down into her eyes.

“Hi back”, she replied. “OK, that’s plenty of talk.”

He grabbed her under her arms and pulled her to him for a fierce kiss, their mouths immediately opening to invite in the others tongue. She was holding onto his arms trying fight the urge to rip off his clothes and jump him right there.

Wait a minute. Why am I fighting the urge…

She went wild, tearing his shirt open and then clawing at his chest. “Harry , I love your body.”

“Yeah, yours isn’t bad either,” he mumbled into her neck.

Her hands kept moving south until she found the zipper on his jeans. She had it undone and his pants pushed down to his knees before he knew what happened.

“Is there something you want, Prof Granger?” he teased.

“No, but there is someONE I want, NOW.”

She jumped off of the table pushed him back to sit in a chair. Standing in front of him she ripped opened her robes. He nearly came then and there when he saw that she was naked under it. “Oh my God Hermione, have you been like that all day?”

“Well, I knew you were coming- or should I say, will be coming…”

He reached out and pulled her hips toward him until she straddled his lap. He tried to kiss her but she pulled away with a smile, and instead moved her lips to his neck and began to lick and suck as she pressed her body into his, trying to dissolve herself into him. She let her hands run down his arms and then between them over his chest- she didn’t think that she’d ever get tired of touching him. Bronzed, smooth, ripped, and hers. It made her moist every time she thought about it.

His hands had been caressing her back as she tasted him. He slowly moved them lower and began running them over her bottom with a feather-light touch, and she started grinding on him as she became more excited. Without warning he slid a finger inside of her, causing her to bite down on his shoulder and moan loudly.

“Hermione…”

She moved her hips faster and faster as he stroked her. Finally he reached around to her front with his other hand and thumbed her clit. She came in a flash, clutching onto to him so she wouldn’t slide down onto the floor.

As she began to calm down she moved her mouth to his and slowly sucked on his lips. Nothing will ever taste this good, she thought. She ran her mouth down his throat, across his shoulder and down his chest. She slid off of his lap onto her knees and reached out for him. He groaned as she took possession of him in her hands. Running her finger from base to tip, she looked him in the eye, licked her lips, and bent her head.

“Mione…” It was a breathy moan released as his eyes drifted shut. His hands moved into her hair as she ran her tongue around the tip and then moved her mouth down his shaft slowly, lightly flicking the tip of her tongue against him, giving him endless pleasure as she gave him a wonderful erotic massage. When she moved down and took his sac in her mouth he pulled her away roughly.

“Mione…” Grabbing her again under her arms he lifted her and moved them back to the booth, laying her down on the seat. He entered her swiftly and began moving into her fast and hard, both of them frantically searching for release.

She placed her hands on his cheeks and brought his eyes to meet her gaze.
“Harry. My Harry.”

He exploded into her crying out her name, her body experiencing again the euphoric ecstasy only he could bring her.

They lay together, trying to find their breath. He lifted his face to kiss her…

She sat bolt upright in bed. What the hell? She ran into the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. She looked up into the mirror. What was that?

She had been looking into Harry’s face.

For the rest of the week, Hermione told Dan she was unable to apparate work with him for various reasons, all of them false. She avoided him in the hallway at school and also successfully ducked him at home. She was too embarrassed and confused to deal with her feelings, so as she’d done for the past 10 years of her life, she denied them.

Ben knew something was up; his mother had been distracted all week and he couldn’t connect with her to find out why. She’s shutting me out, he thought; maybe Aunt Luna knows something. He grabbed his robe and made the quick trip over to Luna & Nevilles.

“Hey handsome, what brings you over to your old Aunt’s house?” Luna said as she kissed him hello.

“You will never be old Aunt Luna, I don’t care what the number on your birth certificate says.”

“OK, now I know you want something- spill it.”

“Well two things actually. First I need your help talking Mum into letting me go away for a weekend, and second, do you know what’s been bothering her all week?”

“No I don’t, but she hasn’t owled me in three days so I knew something had to be up. Why, what’s going on?”

“She’s shut me out of our connection and she’s keeping to herself. I was trying to talk to her last night about something, and when I was done I could tell she hadn’t heard a word I had said.”

“Hmm, I don’t know what’s going on but I will check into it. Now what about you going away for a weekend? Are you dreaming?” or are you finally on my plain of thought ,Luna laughed.

“I know, I know, she’s going to be totally against it, that’s why I need your- and Uncle Nevilles’s- help. I thought you two could be there when I ask her to help peel her off the ceiling.”

“You realize that I would only do this for you, sweetie. I need to borrow a dress from your Mum anyway, so how about we come over Saturday and we’ll do it then?”

“OK, I’m going surfing Saturday but it will be early. I’ll be home by noon at the latest. Is that OK?”

“Yeah, I want to sleep in anyway. Noon is fine.”

“Thanks so much Aunt Luna, I appreciate this. See you Saturday.” Ben kissed her & left feeling a bit better.

When Ben arrived home, Dan was bringing in the mail. “Oh, hey, here’s your mail.”

“Thanks Dan- oh , it’s a good thing you picked this up and not Mum.”

“Why?”

“Because inside this envelope is a booklet and application for the a placement at Annan prep ,” Ben answered as he held up the thick package.

“Are you applying there?”

“Yeah, well I dunno really but I don’t want Mum to know. She’ll freak.”

“Why?”

“It’s just that she wants me to go to Hogwarts but it still holds so many memories for her and I will feel that I have to make up for what my dad was like’’

“I’m not looking forward to it.” I mean I never knew my dad, and I still hope he will find his way back to us some day’’…….
Dan stood there, his mind reeling a mile a minute… he was panicking how long he would be able to keep undercover and to try and find the courage to come clean……find his Hermione again…..he had so many unanswered questions… so many years wasted without his Mione…. But not now. Not now… even Voldemort found out the hard way……..
He prayed no one else ever got in his way of his Mione again…..


=====
Neville and Luna popped into the entranceway on Saturday at the same time Ben and Dan were stepping out of the cottage.

“Hello boys, have a good time? Did Dan manage to get up on the board?” Luna queried.

Ben slapped Dan on the back. “Yes he did, in fact he took to it like a fish to water, pardon the pun.”

“Well, I have a really good sense of balance. I think that helps a lot. But if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get in a nice hot shower now. I smell like the the black lake.”

“I bet you still smell fresh,” Hermione said smiling brightly at them as she came out of the door. Dan gave her a shy smile before making his exit.

Neville helped Ben unload his gear while Luna and Hermione went inside to look through dresses for Luna..Hermione was quite surpised that Luna wanted to borrow her dress…

“So Hermione, is everything all right? I didn’t hear from you much this week,” Luna said.

“Oh, I know, I’ve been so busy at school,” she mumbled into the closet. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, no problem. No not that one, it will make my hips look too big. Are you sure that’s all? Ben is worried about you.”

“He told you that?” Hermione said as she put the offending garment back.

“Yeah, he did. He said you won’t let him connect with you and that you’ve been distracted. You know he picks up on the slightest thing when it comes to you. This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain gorgeous available tenant, would it?”

“What? Luna will you please give it a rest?” Hermione answered impatiently.

“Hermione, I see the way you two look at each other when you think no one else is looking. What is the problem here? You’re both available, you obviously like each other, he is GORGEOUS, AND he reminds me of Harry & it’s frightening really so what is your excuse this time?”

Hermione sighed and stopped sorting through her closet. “Luna, I can’t lie to you. Yes, I like him; there, I said it. But I’m not going to do anything about it. I feel like… like I am insulting Harry’s memory so … just I’m not going to do anything about it, OK?”

“You feel like you’re betraying Harry?. Do you think that I didn’t feel the same way about Ron when I got involved with Neville? I understand, but Hermione, it’s been 10 years. You are not betraying anyone. You are living your life. You’re entitled.”

“I know, but I can’t help it. I look at his eyes and I think of Harry. Maybe that’s why I like him, who knows.” She bit her lip and looked at Luna. “I dreamt of him.”

“Who? Harry or Dan?”

“Harry. Well, it was Harry until the very end. Harry turned into Dan.”

“What was he doing?”

Hermione flushed at the thought.

“Never mind, I can figure it out from the look on your face. So, you had a sex dream about Harry who turned into Dan at the end. You now feel like you betrayed Harry because of it. Does that about cover it?”

“Pretty much,” Hermione sighed.

Just then they heard Neville and Ben laughing as they came into the house.

Luna picked up a black dress and said, “we’ll finish this later” and walked out to the living room.

“Uh, Mum? Do you think I could talk to you about something?”

“Sure sweetie, what’s up?”

Ben looked nervously at Neville and Luna before beginning. “Well, uh, see, Keelan’s Dad has this client who gave him tickets for the Final Four.”

“And I was wondering……

“No.” Hermione didn’t let him finish his sentence.

“Mum, please, we’ll be with Keelan’s dad the entire time. You’ve met him; he’s not exactly the let’s party & get wild type. We’ll be watching Quidditch the whole time.”

“No.”

“Hermione, why not? It doesn’t sound so bad to me.” Ben looked gratefully towards Neville.

“No.”

“Hermione, come on, at least let’s discuss it. You’ve got to let him loose at some point,” Luna prodded.

“Luna I don’t have to do anything. No.”

“Mum, please, will you at least talk to Keelan’s dad? He’ll give you all the details. Please Mum, I really, really want to do this.”

He knew just how to get to her. She could never refuse him anything, and it wouldn’t hurt to talk to the man because she knew she would say no anyway.

“I’ll talk to him. But it’s not going to matter, Ben; I don’t want you going anywhere without me.”

“Mum, what are you going to do when I go away to school?”

She paled at the words. So he DID want to leave her and go away to school.

“Oh oh Ben, I think you sent her into overload. Why don’t you call Keelan now to see when his dad can meet with us.” Luna went over and put her arm around Hermione’s shoulder and said “Breathe, Hermione. This is not a big deal.”

“Yes it is and you know it. I can’t protect him from- from- from who- who knows what could happen to him and if I’m not there…” She was starting to panic; the thought of Ben leaving her was something she was not ready to deal with now.

Neville moved toward the two girls and put his arms around them both. “Hermione, I completely understand your fears. But the reality is that at some point in his life Ben is going to leave. It might be for a weekend, it might be for a month, it might be for good. It is going to happen. Maybe this trip would be a good way to test out the waters. We’ll go with you to talk to Keelan‘s father. At least think about it before you say no again, OK?”

Why did Neville always have to make sense? It made it that much harder to be irrational.
============
Hermione bolted from apparition spot into the house. The meeting with Keelans’s father hadn’t gone well, at least in Hermione’s eyes. Ben, on the other hand, was elated.

“Mum!” He called after her as he joined her. Dan appeared levitating a bag of rubbish to the dust bin.

“Can I surmise from the look on your faces that you asked your mm about the Final ?” Ben had filled Dan in on his plans while they had been swimming.

“Yeah. We just met with my friend’s dad; he laid out the whole deal to her. I can’t believe she’s going to let me do this.”

“Look’s like SHE can’t believe she’s going to let you do it, either,” Dan said as he looked at the door she had just run through.

“Yeah, I’d better go in and make sure she’s not sticking her head in the gas oven or anything.” They both chuckled as Ben went in to find his mother. He found her sitting on her bed, nervously twirling her wand . “Mum, thank you so much for this. I swear I will be careful. Everything will be fine. Really.”

“It’s not you I worry about Ben.”

// It’s the unknown I worry about, she thought. I don’t know if or when something- someone- will find us- find you-

Mum, what are you talking about? // He had picked up their connection and heard all of her concerns.

“Ben, there is so much that you don’t know; that I didn’t want to have to tell you. Believe me Ben when I tell you that just because the past 10 years have been peaceful that doesn’t mean things won’t change. You are the son of a very powerful wizard. A wizard who left to fight a war. What if things didn’t- haven’t- gone well ? What if your father’s enemies find out that there is a living heir to the throne of the founders back here in Scotland You’re life would be in jeopardy in an instant. You have never been exposed to any of this; I have. It’s not pleasant Ben. At least if I’m with you…”

“Mum, no one is going to find out about me at a Quidditch game. I’ll be doing what normal wizarding males my age do. Please Mum, don’t worry, please.”

“I can’t not worry Ben, I’m your mother. It comes with the territory. But I promise you that I will try to deal with this in a rational manner. But you have to promise me that you will call me twice a day and that you will be careful. That you won’t draw any undue attention to yourself. That if anything suspicious happens, you’ll call me immediately. If you see something or someone…”

“Mum, nothing is going to happen. No one knows. It will be OK.”

He was wrong. Someone did know…..

For the next two weeks she put thoughts of Ben’s trip to the back of her mind. If I dwell on it I’ll be ready for St Mungo’sby the time he leaves, she reasoned to herself. She was able to maintain her composure until Monday of the week he was to leave.

Each day on their way into work that week Dan noticed her increasing anxiety. On Friday morning, the day Ben was leaving, he could see she was coming undone. Upon arriving at school he immediately set out to find Neville.

“Neville, I’m glad I caught you. Have you seen Hermione? She is really upset today. I saw her walk into a door & say ‘excuse me’ to it.”

“Yeah, we knew this was going to be very rough on her. Luna and I are coming over tonight to say goodbye to Ben and try to keep Hermione from hiding in the bottom of Bens trunk‘’. Look, I’m going to be late, would you keep an eye on her today? And tonight come downstairs; after he leaves we’ll play some chess or do something to occupy her.”

“Sure, no problem.” No problem at all, he thought; watching Hermione Granger was his favorite pastime. It always was and always would be

At six o’clock Keelans’s father arrived with the other boys to collect Ben. Hermione was holding on to him like she was drowning and he was a life jacket.

“OK, you’ll send me an owl as soon as you get there, right?”

“Yes Mum, I promise.”

“And you’ll be careful? No stupid stunts, no wandering off?”

“Yes Mum, I promise.”

“And you’ll call me every morning? And every night?

“Yes Mum, I promise.”

“And…”

“Hermione! You’ve gone through this three times already. He will be fine. Let him go now before you have a stroke!” Luna’s words actually made logical sense, but right now, being logical was the furthest thing from her mind, which was what Hermione usually was.

Dan felt terrible for Hermione; she was so obviously beside herself he didn’t think she’d live through the weekend. “Hermione, really, they seem like a nice bunch of kids, and Keelan’s dad seems very responsible, I’m sure everything will be fine.” He would have said or done anything to assuage her fear at that moment.

“All right, all right. Have a good time. Be careful. I love you. Be careful.”

“I will Mum, I promise. I love you too. Thank you for this.” Ben turned towards the three others. “Please take care of her this weekend.” He kissed her and gave her a bear hug before reassembling at the portkey.

They all waved goodbye and Hermione lasted about three seconds before breaking down in tears.

“Luna! He’s leaving!” was all she could choke out between her sobs. Luna wrapped her arms around Hermione and held her, simply saying “it’s all right Mione, it’s all right” over and over. Neville and Dan looked at each other, both feeling a bit uncomfortable at being present during her breakdown. Neville motioned to Dan to go inside with him and leave the girls to talk.

“Mione, he’s going to be fine. No one there will find out about him being- well being the son of the famous boy who lived. They are just going to go to the games and hang out. He will be home before you know it,”and I’m sure the carbukled hannukrs will help him find peace while he is there’’ Luna said soothingly.

No words could comfort her now, though; she just had to cry it out. After a few more minutes she collected herself a little. Not even Luna‘s ramblings ..“Thanks Luna, as usual. Let’s go inside; I could use a warm drink.”

Neville was already leviosa ing a batch of butterbeers when they came in. “What’s this?” Hermione asked, pointing at the table.

“Oh, Neville and I thought maybe a game of Chess would take your mind off… ah, so he had me dig out the chess board.” Dan looked at her red puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks and wished he could make her feel better. “We also ordered some food from the Gryffinn, if that’s OK with you.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Whatever.”

They passed the evening with Luna winning nearly every game. “Woo hoo! I’m making a killing here!”

Wow, is that clock right? It’s almost 11:30? No wonder I’m so tired. Hermione, do you mind if we hit the road now?”

“No, go ahead, they won’t even get there until sometime in the early morning. He’ll call then.”

“If he knows what’s good for him. Oh- I have an idea- why don’t the four of us go to dinner tomorrow night? One of the parents at school said he could get me a reservation at The Grange. I’m dying to go there; it’s supposed to be so elegant. Come on Hermione, we’ll get dressed up and get drunk in a nice place for a change.”

“Luna, I don’t know…”

“Sounds like a good idea to me, “ Dan interjected. “Did you have plans?”

“Only to sit and stare at my phonel.” Hermione had a few muggle devices and one was a cell phone….

“Well, he has your cell phone number; you made sure of that, like 57 times before he left, so there’s no reason not to go. It’ll be great. I’ve heard they make the best rack of lamb around. I’ll call in the morning for the reservation, is 7 OK with everyone?” Luna was not going to allow her to refuse.

“OK, we’ll meet you both up around 6:30.” Neville pulled Hermione in for a hug and whispered “everything’s going to be OK Mione, don’t worry. Call in the middle of the night if you’re upset, OK?”

“Thanks Neville; I’m sure I’ll be OK. Thank you all for baby-sitting me tonight.”
She hugged Luna and Neville goodbye, then began to clean up.

“Here, let me help you with that.” Dan didn’t want to leave her yet.

“Oh, it’s OK; I’ll just put them in the sink. I think I’ll just have a read before I turn in

“Would you like to stay and talk for a while?” Did I just ask him to- oh, lighten up Hermione; she thought to herself. It was only a dream, over two weeks ago at that. You have enough to worry about without going completely neurotic about making conversation with someone now.

They sat close together on the couch. “It’s been a good tonight”, Dan remarked as he turned to smile at her. She was fighting to keep her eyes open, and she started a little at the sound of his voice. “Yeah” she mumbled before succumbing to fatigue again. Her head slowly fell to the left until it gently came down to rest on his shoulder.

At the contact fire shot through his body. He turned his head to breathe in her scent, and he slowly began to rub his cheek over the top of her head so he could feel her hair. Oh oh, he thought, I’d better get out of here now, before I do something I shouldn’t. He lifted her head and eased himself off of the couch. He propped some pillows up in the corner and gently shifted her body until she was resting on them. Picking up her legs, he moved them onto the couch and removed her shoes, then he grabbed the thin cotton blanket from the back of the couch and covered her. Staring down at her, he couldn’t help but smile; she looked so beautiful and innocent while she slept. I can’t hold out much longer, he thought; the dam is going to break soon.

Early the next morning Dan heard a clanking sound and a loud “damn it!” coming from the back yard. He rose and peered out the window to see Hermione attempting to pick up a large round metal apparatus that had obviously fallen. He pushed open the window and called down to her, “Hermione- hold up- I’ll be down in a minute and I’ll help you.”

As he made his way down the stairs he could hear her swearing softly. He found her attempting to drag what appeared to be a large metal holder for a garden hose across the yard.

“Hermione! You’ll hurt yourself, wait.” He levitated it up and asked, “where did you want this?”

“I want to mount it over the spickets on the side of the garage. I don’t suppose you would hold it up for me while I mark and drill the screw holes?”

“Sure, no problem.” but why may I ask why didn’t you levitate it?’’

He watched her deftly mark, measure and drill the mounting holes. “It looks like you’ve done this before.”

“Well, you learn to do a lot of things when you don’t have a man around to rely on,” she replied. ‘’and I don’t always do things the wizarding way as you may have noticed’’

“So I’m guessing you couldn’t sleep and that’s why you’re out here so early?”

“I’m sorry if I woke you. I just thought working in the yard would occupy my mind. Ben called at 4 AM to say they had arrived and I couldn’t fall back to sleep.”

“Well, now that I’m up, is there anything I can help you with?” he asked with a smile.

They worked until early afternoon together; Dan doing some minor repairs on the gutters and then helping Hermione dig a new garden bed. Around 2 PM Hermione looked at her watch. “Well, I’ve about had it. I think I’m going to take a nap before dinner. Thank you so much for your help. And your company. I probably would have been climbing the walls by now if I didn’t have someone to talk to. Thanks.”

“Anytime Hermione,” he said as he melted under her bright smile.

“OK, well, I’m going to take that nap. I’ll see you around 6:30.”
=====
Ben called her as she was getting out of the shower.

“Hi Mum, it’s me. Still alive and well.”

“Hi honey, are you having fun?”

“We’re having a great time Mum. We didn’t realize it until we got here, but all of the tickets we have are courtside seats. We are right in the action.”

“Good, I’m glad you’re having fun. Is everything else OK?”

“Yes Mum, no death eaters spotted yet.”

“Benedict!…”

“Kidding! Just kidding. Everything is fine. We are going to get something to eat & then watch a game at 8 tonight. Then we’ll come right back here. I’ll call you then.”

“OK, I’m going out to dinner with Aunt Luna and uncle Neville, so if you don’t get me at home try the cell.”

“Just aunt Luna and uncle Neville’’?

“And Dan. So you’ll try the cell?”

“I’ll try the cell. Have fun Mum.”

“You too. I love you. Be careful.”

“I love you too Mum. I’ll talk to you later.”

At 6:30 Dan came and knocked at her door. “Hermione? Mind if I come in?”

“Sure, they should be here any second,” she called out.

Stepping into the living room he froze as his eyes fell upon her. “Hermione, you look very- ah- very nice. Really nice.” He wanted to say incredibly beautiful but checked himself.

“Thank you,” she said blushing. She hadn’t felt someone stare at her like he was doing right now in a very long time.

A shuddering gargling noise erupted from the hearth.

“Hello? Hermione?it’s Nevilles gran- she’s had a funny turn ‘’……oh my God are you serious- no, no, of course, please tell Neville I‘m thinking if him. And be careful up there. Call me as soon as you know something‘’.

She turned around from the fireplace and looked at Dan. “That was Luna. They just got a call that Neville’s gran had a heart attack and is in St Mungo‘s. They are going there now.”

“Oh no, I hope she’ll be all right,” Dan said, concern etching his face.

“Yes, me too; Mrs. Longbottom is a really nice when you get to know her‘’. So, ah, they won’t be able to make dinner.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Well, we’re all dressed, we could still go- that is, if you still want too.”

“OK,” she answered immediately. Wow, this might be the first normal date I’ve been on in a million years, she thought. Wait- I don’t know if he thinks this is a date- well, you know what Hermione Jane? she said to herself. Who cares. Just go and attempt to have a good time.

They arrived at the restaurant and because the size of their party had changed, they had to wait for a smaller table to become available. They were finally seated at a small table near the fireplace.

Hermione looked around admiring the décor. “Wow, Luna was right, this place is beautiful. I remember when this was an old run down building. The current owners bought it for a song and refurbished it to the original Victorian design; I think they even won some design awards for the work.”

“Well they did a great job. I liked the gas lights out front.”

They ordered the rack of lamb (“I’ll hear it from Luna if I don’t”) and Dan insisted she order a bottle of wine (“you would if Luna were here”). They continued to chat about the building and then branched out into many different topics, falling in and out of conversation easily, both enjoying each other’s company. OK, Hermione thought to herself, this is really mean but I’m glad Luna and Neville aren’t here. I never would get to talk to him like this if Luna were here playing twenty questions with him all night.

They both ordered espresso after dinner and the conversation turned to Ben.

“So, top box seats huh? Keelan’s dad must have good connections,” Dan said.

“I think he works for a big corporate firm in New Hampshire so he probably does. I’m glad he’s having fun, but I can’t help worrying about him.” She looked at him and smiled shyly. “You must think I’m the most over-protective neurotic mother in the world.”

“Not at all; it couldn’t have been easy for you, raising him by yourself. You did a great job, Hermione. He’s a great kid.” He looked her dead in the eye as he uttered the last statement.

“No, it wasn’t easy, but I had Luna & Ginny. Ben and I wouldn’t be where we are today if not for her. You could say Ginny was Ben’s father figure, I guess. And then Neville came into the picture with Luna when Ben was about seven weeks old and he’s been just great to Ben. I’m very blessed to have such wonderful friends.”

“Yes, you are. But I’m willing to bet that Ben’s demeanor is mostly due to you. He has a lot of your mannerisms.” Like that cute thing you do when you chew on your lip, he thought.

“Well, it’s always been just us. He’s been my world for the past 9 years.”

Hermione found herself telling him about their life, something she normally wouldn’t do. She was extremely guarded about what she told anyone about Ben, suspicious of anyone who asked more than two questions of her, but for some reason it was so easy to talk to Dan. She told him how proud she was of Ben being a top Quidditch player & yet he was only 9 yrs old ..He was also able to maintain an “A+” average at school. How he had volunteered on his own to work with the Special under achievers at his school. How he had always been the sweetest, most wonderful child who did thoughtful things for her all of the time. And how she feared him leaving her, though she didn’t tell him the real reason why. He was due for an early selection for his next school since he was academically aged at 14yrs old, unlike his physical body….

“You’re very lucky Hermione. Too bad his father isn’t around, I’m sure he’d be proud of Ben.”

Hermione froze. “Yes, um, well, it can’t be helped, I mean, um, he’s not, uh…”

“Hermione, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Why did I say that? he thought. She looks like a deer caught in the headlights right now.

“No, it’s OK, I think, uh, I had too much wine, maybe. Do you mind if we go?” She was already standing and collecting her purse.

“Sure, absolutely.” Damn it, we were having such a nice time, I could kick myself, Dan admonished himself. He hurried to catch up with her as she was already almost to the door.

The ride home was quiet. Hermione kept telling herself to stop over-reacting and calm down. It was a perfectly innocent- and kind- comment that he had made. As the taxi came to a stop near the river bank she looked at him and smiled. “Would you like to come in for a butterbeer?.”

“Oh, yes, that sounds great.” Oh thank God, he thought; she isn’t completely pissed.

As soon as they were inside the phone rang. “Hey Mum, we’re just leaving the game.”

“Who won?” Not that she even knew who was playing, but she always showed an interest in anything Ben liked.

“Dukes. They slaughtered the Wasps. It was great. We’re going to stop and pick up a pizza to take back to the room with us.”

“OK sweetheart, I’m glad you’re having fun. Call me in the morning. Be careful. I love you.”

“Me too Mum. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight sweetie,” she said as she hung up the phone.

“So who won? Dukes or Wasps? And where do you keep your glasses?” Dan called out to her as he looked at the cabinets.

“Dukes, and in the cabinet above your head. He said they killed them. He’s having a great time. If I wasn’t so worried about him I’d be glad he is having so much fun.”

They adjourned to have their butter beers in the living room. As much as he didn’t want to upset her again, Dan felt the need to apologize for his comment before at dinner.

“Hermione? About before, at the restaurant, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you or intrude on your privacy, I…”

“No, no, please don’t worry about it,” she interrupted. “I over reacted, as usual. I’m sorry that I freaked out like that. It’s just that when it comes to Ben I’m hyper about everything- in case you haven’t noticed,” she added with a grin.

Dan chuckled softly, relieved that she wasn’t angry. “I can understand; like I said, I realize it couldn’t have been easy for you being a single parent.”

“Well, I actually don’t know any other way- I mean, his dad was gone before I even knew I was pregnant. And at the risk of sounding boastful, I think I’ve done a pretty good job; I mean, Ben doesn’t seem to be affected by it too much, that is…” she trailed off.

“What?”

“Well, Ben has issues with his dad, I guess you could say.” Why was he so easy to talk to?

“But he never met his dad?” Dan said, slightly confused.

“He hasn’t- that’s one of the problems. He is very angry that his father hasn’t been a part of our lives, even though I’ve tried to explain a million times that’s not possible. I guess that’s a normal response for a child, but Ben is so sweet and sensitive that I don’t expect anger from him. And I know that my actions have not helped the situation any, either.”

“What do you mean? He obviously adores you.”

Hermione smiled. “And I adore him. I mean that I haven’t, uh, moved on, so to speak, in his-or Luna’s- eyes.”

Remembering what Neville had told him about Hermione not dating he said, “you mean because you never married?”

“Well, I think what really annoys the two of them is that I don’t even date much.” Her voice softened. “They think I’ve wasted my life waiting for him to return.” Her words trailed off as she began to study the couch cushions intently, suddenly taking note of the small amount of space between his leg and hers.

Dan was staring down at her intently. “Is that what you think?”

The silence that hung in the room was deafening. A hot flash swept through Hermione’s body leaving her feverish as she continued to stare down at the couch pillows. What do I think? That answer could fill volumes.

She slowly moved her eyes up to meet his. Her body was trembling and her voice was barely audible as she answered. “Not until now.”

Emotions did away with all rational thinking in Dan’s mind. She had remained faithful for 10 years to a hope, an idea; and now, when she finally decided to open herself up again, it was to him. To HIM. The same fever that possessed Hermione at the moment took hold of him.

Never removing his eyes from hers he moved his hand up and ever so lightly brushed it across her cheek, moving it back to gently play in her hair. Resting it there he brought his thumb back to play over her cheek. Unconsciously they slowly leaned toward each other until their lips brushed together. Pulling back slightly he looked down at her to see her eyes half closed and staring at his mouth; as he moved into her again they drifted close as she lifted her face.

Their kiss was soft and slow and long. Sighing into his mouth, Hermione ran her hand lightly over the top of his thigh, across his chest and brought it to cup his cheek, providing the spark to ignite them both into deepening the kiss. He brought both his hands to her face and drank from her lips like a man dying of thirst, not able to quench his thirst and need.

It’s been so long, she thought, so very, very long; and this felt so good, so very, very good. She slid into his arms and eagerly returned his ardor, being swept up in sensations that had lay dormant for so many years. He tasted so warm, so, so ….. Familiar…..

Suddenly she jumped back and off of the couch and stared at him, adrenaline pulsing through her veins, her eyes huge with fear.

She had a vision.
Who was he?



*Authors note*
I would like to explain a few things…
Hermione is not mad as some have suggested, although she is wary…

Harry & Ron disappeared at the final battle when he went after voldemort..
Leaving a pregnant Hermione unbeknownst to Harry….
Harry had been trapped in another realm leaving Hermione to carry on without Harry & waiting for the day he would return to her and the family he never knew he had…..

Dan looked up at her in shock and confusion. Hermione looked wild- her mouth open and her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath, her eyes filled with horror, as she slowly started to back away from him.

“Hermione, I’m sorry, I didn’t…”

“Who are you?” she said as her eyes began to roam the room frantically as if looking for an exit.

Dan stood up, seized with fear. “Hermione what…”

“WHO ARE YOU?” This time she screamed it at him.

Obviously she saw or felt something from me, he thought; this was NOT the way he had wanted this to go down. His hand had been forced because he couldn’t control himself around her. Just like always. “Hermione please calm down…”

“Calm down? CALM DOWN?!!! I saw a vision. You know what I’m talking about don’t you. A vision. STAY AWAY FROM ME!!” He had begun to move toward her, and she backed up into the wall and took a fight stance. If he hadn’t been scared shitless about her reaction it would’ve been funny- no matter how good a kick-boxer she might be, he was twice her size and 100 times her strength. After years of fighting he knew many ways to subdue an enemy. But she was anything but his enemy.

“Oh my God, Ben…” Her voice was tiny and laced with fear as she thought about her son. She knew she never should have let him go away. She had played right into their hands. Dan knew exactly where he was.

The terror radiating off of her now nearly brought him to his knees. “No Hermione, please, Ben is OK, please listen to me, PLEASE.”

She stood as stiff as a statue, rooted in place, arms still raised, realizing she had no choice. I need to find out all I can before I kill him, she was thinking. So I can get to Ben.

“What did you see?”

“Mountains lots of them. Water. A cold dark, barren land.”

“That would be my prison.” He swallowed hard, groping for the right words. This is harder than the first time, he thought.

“And where exactly would that be?”

“Bulgaria.”

Bulgaria. The place that had given her the love of her life such hardships a place that had taken him away. The place that could rightly lay claim to her son and take him away too. The word sliced through her like salt poured into an open wound.

“Bulgaria.” She repeated it, trying to focus her mind. She had so many questions, but they would have to wait until she ascertained who he was, what he wanted, and most of all, how much danger Ben was in.

“So who exactly are you and what do you want?” She forced herself to appear calm.

His stomach was in his throat; he opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out. He swallowed and tried again.

“It’s me, Mione.”

“Me who.”

“Me. Harry.”

Her eyes narrowed to slits as she stared at him and every hair on her body stood on end. “I know three different ways to break your neck so I would advise you not to lie to me again. Who are you.” Her words hissed through her teeth.

“Harry, Hermione; I’m Harry.”

She pulled herself fully upright to look as menacing as possible. “Bullshit. Harry can’t handle polyjuice to look like someone else. His body would not accept it..This is the last time I’m asking- who are you and who sent you here.”

“I didn’t transform Hermione. It’s kind of a occlumens - a mind illusion really. My appearance hasn’t changed. I’ve made you think that I look different than I do. See?”

The handsome dark haired face before her vanished and Harry’s face appeared. The face that she still saw in her dreams only matured by years of trial and separation. His hair was still short but it was the beautiful raven hair she remembered. Smooth skin, rosy lips, and cute ears. The eyes didn’t change though. She avoided looking directly into them. Keep your head clear Hermione, you have to be two steps ahead of him.

“You just proved that you’re a shape-shifter. Harry didn’t have the power to mind warp.”

Not being able to help himself, he chuckled at her. “Well I guess you could say that living in a place with the lowest things that have ever graced this earth for the past 10 years has taught me a few things.” He sobered instantly and dropped his voice, pleading with her to believe him. “Mione, it’s me, I swear. I told you I would come back for you. It just took a lot longer than I ever imagined it would.”

She shook her head vehemently. “You’ve constructed an entire identity to deceive me- if you were Harry you wouldn’t have to hide yourself from me. He would know that. He does know that.” Revulsion was beginning to wash over her. She had been loyal to Harry for so long, and now she betrayed him with- well, she still didn’t know whom.

“Hermione, I had no idea what had happened to you. I didn’t know if you had married or where you were or even if you were alive. I didn’t know how you’d react to me when you saw me. I probably would’ve told you a lot sooner, but then I found out about Ben, and I didn’t know what he’d think. From what you’ve told me tonight, I made the right choice.”

“Don’t you dare speak my son’s name,” she hissed.

“It’s my name too. Hermione, if you let me connect with you, you’ll see that, you know, I’m still me.”

Her head jerked and her eyes locked on his. She had heard those same words, so many years ago. They had changed her life.

He took a step toward her. “mione, please.” He was begging her, knowing he had to show her beyond any shadow of a doubt that it really was him.

Being torn between fear and knowing this would show her what she needed to know, she nodded her head almost imperceptibly.

He gently placed his hands on either side of her face and gazed into her eyes. He could feel her body shaking as he said, “relax and let your mind go blank.”

The rush of images came immediately.

His adoration of her from afar. Her fussing over him going into battle. Their first kiss. Making love together. Various scenes from their relationship. Their tortuous goodbye. Harry in battle; as a leader; as a mighty wizard. The infamous Yule ball dress.

But more than the images she felt all of his emotions over the past 10 years. His fear of not being accepted on his “Return”. His bravery in battle and his compassion for those who served under him. His pride in being regarded a great wizard. But through it all there was one recurring sentiment.

Loneliness, despair….

Its overpowering presence permeated every fibre of his being. Being surrounded by friends, comrades, adoring Aurors did nothing to lift him from the desolation he existed in.

When they were young, his loneliness came from his conscious decision to separate himself from others for protection. He dealt with it in silence, throwing up a wall if anyone came too close. Loneliness was a by-product of being who he was. It was painful but survivable.

But that was before Hermione had told him she loved him. Before he knew that it was possible for every cell in his body to be satiated with love and to know that love was returned just as strong. Whoever had written, “it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all” was wrong. Dead wrong. Knowing that there was something, someone, who could make the gnawing despair that lived in his veins go away was worse. Far worse.

He had lived in a glass cage for 10 years, waiting for the time he could return to the woman who held his heart in her hands.

And she knew. He had waited for her, just like she had been waiting for him. There was no one else. Ever. There never could be.

It was Harry. Her Harry.

He removed his hands from her face and asked “did it work?”

Just as it had been all of those years ago, she continued staring deep into his emerald eyes, into his soul, and nodded.

Then she did the only thing she could do.

She cocked her arm back and punched him full force in the face.

*Warning* This chapter contains a sex scene. proceed with care*




Holy mother of Merlin that hurt!.

Who would think that such a small woman could pack a punch like that. Caught off guard, she had hit him on the jaw forcing him back a few steps. He brought his hand up to rub the area and looked at her.

“I thought it wor…”

“You bastard.”

Hermione was shaking from the rush of anger that had flooded her system. It took her by surprise as much as it did him.

All the years she had dreamed of their reunion, it was always the same- falling into his arms, kissing him senseless and hearing words of love pour from his lips. She never in a million years would have suspected she’d feel such rage towards him.

But there it was. Pulsing through her veins like a steam train running amuck, it began to take on a life of its own. After all, it had had 10 years to gestate. She began pacing and wringing her hands trying to form a coherent thought.

“Hermione what…”

“You fucking bastard.”

Harry was in shock. He had never heard her swear like this, but that was the least of his concerns. He had no idea where she was coming from at the moment, no way to gauge what her next action would be. In all the years he had dreamed of their reunion, it had always been the same- pulling her into his arms, kissing her senseless and letting her know that he was never going to let her go again.

There was no way he could be prepared for the freight train that was about to run him over.

Then back up.

Then run him over again.

She stopped her frantic pacing and turned, positioned the cross hairs on him and fired.

“Let me get this straight. All this time. You were alive & able to come back. You were able to come back for the past 10 years. 10 years. What’s the matter, Harry, didn’t they give the boy who lived a copy of the daily prophet? Couldn’t fit it into your busy schedule? Didn’t occur to you to ask your gaolers to let you out so you could visit your wife to be’’?? Sarcasm was oozing out of her pores as she spoke.

“Hermione, I couldn’t, we…”

“You couldn’t send someone else? A messenger? Tie a note to an owl? Attempt any kind of contact? Nothing? Did you even try? Or was it just easier to do nothing and let me spend the past 10 years in limbo?”

“It’s not that simple mione…”

“No? Well looks like you had no problem finding your way here now. And after waiting 10 years, instead of wanting to be with me you chose to lie to me. You chose to disguise yourself and try and seduce me to see if I’d go for it. Was that a fun little game for you? Find out that I’ve been alone all this time and then see if you could bait me into ‘cheating’ on the real you?”

“Hermione please, you don’t understand…”

“Let me tell you what I DO understand. I understand that for the last 10 years of my life I’ve walked around in a fog. Wondering when the floo called, or when someone was at the door, if it was you. Wondering if you were even still alive. I understand that I raised my son alone. That he never knew his father; that he has suffered because of my choices. I understand that every year on the anniversary of when you left I die a little bit more. Now I understand that not only didn’t I rate high enough for any attempt at contact, when you finally did do something, you chose to deceive me. I understand perfectly. I’m second. If that.”

“You have never been second …”

“Oh really. Well from my perspective it sure looks that way.”

“Are you going to allow me to say anything at all?” He’d had it. He could understand her hurt and anger over the length of their separation, about the ruse he’d used for the past few months, about a lot of things; but to be accused of putting her after anything or anyone in his life was too much. He’d endured too much.

His tone made her hold her tongue for a moment, just long enough for him to begin.

“Second? Every action I’ve taken in the past 10 years began and ended with one thought- how will this help me get back to Hermione faster. Every battle, every negotiation- finishing this will bring me closer to being with Hermione again. Waking up every morning & going to sleep every night with the same thought- you. Your face. Your smile. I’ve suffered too Mione; you’re not the only one who spent the last 10 years alone. But I always thought I could handle it because I had you. In here.” He pointed to his heart. “You have never been second in my life. NEVER.”

His words left her paralyzed with confusion. The adrenaline was still pulsing through her but her feet remained glued in place, her head spinning around the room, her mind unsure of where to go next.

He took advantage of her hesitation and moved slowly until he was standing inches from her. When they were young it had been him keeping her at arms length until she had finally convinced him that love was worth all of the risks they’d have to face. Now it was his turn.

“Mione.” He breathed out her name as he looked down upon her, willing her to move her eyes up to his. “Mione please look at me.”

She was torn. The anger had receded somewhat, allowing what he said to sink in, but so many thoughts and feelings were flying around her head they left her dizzy.

“Mione.”

Slowly she raised her face and looked up at him. Looking in his eyes she wondered how she didn’t recognize him before this. Yes, they were changed, world-weary, as if they’d been witness to things no eyes should have to see, but they were the same deep emerald pools she’d lost herself in when she was 14. When she looked into those eyes she could see herself.

“Hermione I’m sorry that I lied to you. I didn’t plan for it to end up like this. When Oliver told me you had moved here…”

“Oliver? You’ve seen Oliver? He knows you’re here?”

“Well, I went back to Oxford looking for you; you know, it being the logical place to start. Well, Oliver told me you had moved here and that you were a professor at Hogwarts. He didn’t tell me much about anything else because he had to run out on a call. I asked him not to say anything to anyone about seeing me. I came out here without really knowing what I was going to do, how I would approach you. I went to Annan and found out they needed DADA & Astronomy professor at Hogwarts.”

“Yeah, how did you manage that, I mean, you don’t actually have a degree,” Hermione asked.

Harry grinned. “Well I guess you could say that this is one of those cases when work in the field is more valuable than book knowledge. And diplomas aren’t that hard to uh, come up with, if you’re me. I thought I’d just watch you for awhile-“

“You mean spy on me,” she said with a raised eyebrow.

He ignored the comment and continued. “I never expected you to walk into my room that day. Then Neville invited me to dinner and I knew that I should keep my distance, but I had to be near you even if you didn’t know it was me. I know that’s selfish but I couldn’t help it.”

No longer angry, Hermione was listening with rapt attention. She had so many questions. “What about Ron Is he here too?”

“No. Ron is dead’’! For the first time Harry looked away from her. His face clouded over with pain and she thought she saw the glimmer of tears well up in his eye.

“Ron- .Ron died Protecting me.” He wiped away the tear that rolled down his cheek.

She was stunned. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”

“He pushed me out of the way and was hit in my place. He was so brave, Hermione; he was the best we had. He was the best friend I’ll ever have.”

“I’m so sorry.” She was choking up herself now, realizing how much he had dealt with and suffered through alone. “Have you told the family?”

“No. ‘’Not yet. I was hoping you would help me break the news’’…

They stood in silence for a moment, together mourning the loss of a friend, of memories of what was and what could have been. Regaining his composure he turned back toward her.

“Hermione, I’m sorry that I hurt you, that I lied to you; I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t just show up after all this time without knowing what was going on in your life first. I thought you may have found someone else, maybe gotten married, and I didn’t want to ruin your life.” His voice dropped down to a whisper. “Again.”

Her confusion vanished. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was this. Looking deep into his eyes she said, “you never ruined my life. You gave me the only true happiness I’ve ever known.”

Reaching out to take her hands in his, his voice cracked with emotion. “I’ve missed you so much. My life has been empty without you. The only time I felt anything near happiness was when I was dreaming of you or our reunion.” He had to smirk as he brought his hand back to his jaw. “I didn’t exactly picture you punching me though.”

She laughed softly and reached up to touch the bruise that had begun to form. “Um, yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t plan that either.”

Covering her hand with his he brought it to his mouth and softly pressed his lips on her fingertips. “Mione I love you so much. I’ve loved you ( even though I never realised it)
from the first day I ever saw you and will until the day that I die. Please tell me its not too late. Please tell me you’ll give this- give us- another chance. Please Hermione.” His eyes, his body, everything about him was pleading with her to let him in.

The adrenaline freight train was back in her bones but this time it carried her in the opposite direction of anger.

Trembling from head to toe she moved her hand down and placed it flat on his chest and pushed him away slightly to look him in the eye. “What if you have to leave again. What if you have to go back. I couldn’t live through that again. I won’t.”

“You won’t have to. I’m not going back Hermione, I made it through .I left. I will never leave you again. I can’t do it either. I won’t.”

Feeling herself spiraling helplessly into his mesmerizing gaze and feeling the love pouring off of him, she did the only thing she could do.

She threw herself into his arms and kissed him senseless.

The shock of her sudden about-face stunned him momentarily, then he threw his arms around her in a crushing embrace. They kissed hungrily, savagely, as if each was trying to inhale the other. Their hands grabbed at whatever clothing or skin they landed on, their movements almost violent.

After all it had been 10 years. 10 years without the feel of each other’s touch, the sound of each other’s voice, the kiss of each other’s lips.

They fell to their knees simultaneously. Any remaining rational thoughts flew out the window as years of frustrated need and desire exploded in a flash of moving hands, lips, and moans. Hermione pushed him down onto his back and he pulled her down onto his chest roughly, not wanting an extra second to pass without the feel of her body next to his.

After all it had been 10 years. 10 years of feeling empty and alone and aching.

No thought was given to preliminaries as Harry pulled her dress over her hips and she whipped the zipper on his pants down. She freed his straining member from his boxers as he tried in vain to remove her briefs, finally in frustration tearing them from her body. She impaled herself on him and they moved together hard, fast, gracelessly, as they sought an end to their raging hunger.

After all it had been 10 years. 10 years of not being with each other. Or anyone else.

They both quickly came to their climax with loud cries of satisfaction and she collapsed on top of him, their chests heaving together desperately seeking oxygen.

After all it had been- oh, you get the picture.

As their breathing returned to normal and the quiet of the moment settled upon them they did the only thing they could do.

They began to cry. They began to cry for all the needless deaths, all the time wasted and all the hurt because of one foul excuse for a wizard…
Voldemort had a lot to answer for…..

They lay on the floor facing each other sobbing.

Clutching onto each other like a drowning person holds onto a life preserver, their bodies shook with the intensity of their cries.

They cried out their years of fear, frustration, and hurt. They cried for the time they had lost together. They cried for their son. For relief that finally, after so many years of longing, of yearning for each other, they were finally back to the only place either of them had ever found peace.

After a long time they calmed, wiped the tears from each other’s cheeks and then began to stroke each other trying to soothe away their anxieties. Their eyes remained locked as they both reveled in the moment, inexpressible thoughts and feelings of love flowing between them freely.

They began kissing softly, slowly, savoring the taste of the other’s lips. Harry brought his hand up into her hair and ran his thumb lovingly across her cheek and she sighed into his mouth.

“I always loved when you did that.”

He smiled at her as he continued his movements. “I always loved kissing you.”

“Just kissing?” she teased.

A small groan escaped from his throat before he captured her lips again, more forcefully this time; his tongue thrusting into her mouth conveying the other things he also loved doing to her. She responded immediately, pulling her leg up over his hip and pressing her body into his. He ran his hand down her back and over her bottom, pulling her closer still as they began to move against each other.

She pulled away suddenly, stood up and extended her hand. “Come with me.”

He leapt off the floor and allowed her to lead him down the hallway into her bedroom. Upon entering she picked up a lighter and a candle from her dresser. Taking it from her he said “allow me”, waved his hand, and every candle in the room ignited.

Hermione began backing up toward the bed pulling him by the wrist, her smoldering eyes roaming up and down his body and elevating his temperature another 10 degrees.

She reached out and slowly began to unbutton his shirt saying, “I need to see you.” Freeing the final button she slid her hands across his chest and pushed the shirt down his arms until it fell to the floor. Her hands roamed his upper body and she smiled at his sharp intake of breath as her lips followed, creating a trail of fire across his torso. He’s more perfect than ever, she thought to herself; still strong and lean but now he had the body of a man instead of a boy. A very hard, hot man.

Continued from chapter 8
*WARNING* Rated chapter…..



She kneeled as she slid her hands down and pulled his pants and boxers off. “I need to see all of you.”

His head fell back as her lips moved up his leg to his hip and then crossed his abs. As she stood her hand followed the path her mouth had taken until it rested on his hardness. Her tongue snaked out over his nipple and he gasped again as she began to slowly stroke him and her mouth continued to move. Reaching his ear she murmured to him “you are as gorgeous as ever” before returning at last to his lips. He grabbed her face with both hands and plundered her mouth as her hand tightened around him and quickened its pace. Feeling his control quickly draining away, he pulled her hand away and tried to catch his breath.

“My turn.”

He turned her around and lowered the zipper on the back of her dress. His fingers barely brushed her skin as he nudged the straps off of her shoulders and replaced them with his lips while still slowly moving the dress down her body, letting it pool at her feet. His hands encircled her waist and he rested one on the spot where he had healed her, where their journey had begun so many years ago. He ran his tongue over her shoulder blade and up her neck to her ear.

“I love you Mione. Always.”

It was whispered reverently and it made her knees weak. She leaned back into his chest for support, and her head tilted to the side as his lips continued their journey over her jaw line and back down her neck. His calloused hands began a journey of their own as one ran over her hip in light circles on their way to her inner thigh and the other moved up to her breasts to play with her nipples. She moaned loudly at the first brush of his fingers through her dark curls and her body went limp. He quickly scooped her up, placed her on the bed and moved over her. Once again taking her face in his hands he stared at her a moment in awe. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you are even more beautiful than I remember.”

Hermione had a fleeting thought that it was a good thing that he was holding her down because she’d probably float up to the ceiling right then if he wasn’t. Her hands reached up to cup his face. “Oh Harry,” was all she could get out as her throat closed with emotion.

His eyes grew watery as he breathed out “Mione, , my love.” He leaned down and caressed her lips with his for a long moment, sending her his feelings of adoration and desire through their connection. The kiss grew deeper and her hands began to graze over his body, slowly moving downward. He pulled away from her and taking her hands in his he kissed the back of each one before placing them back down on the bed on either side of her body.

“It’s still my turn.”

After another passionate kiss he began kissing and touching every inch of skin he came in contact with, all the while murmuring words of his love. His mouth found her breast and as he began to lick and suck at her nipples his hand moved down between her legs and began to trace around her lips. A low, drawn out moan escaped her as she abandoned herself totally to the pleasure vortex she was being pulled into. He groaned himself when he found her wet and ready as he slid a finger inside and began stroking her. As she pulled at him to bring him back up to take his mouth again, he began to move his thumb over her clit. Her head fell back from his kisses, her eyes closed and lips parted as soft moans quickly poured forth. He remained hovering over her, watching as she grinded herself on his hand and tossed her head from side to side, helpless in the throes of passion pulsing through her. Her hands twisted in the sheets and she cried out as her orgasm flashed over her. Harry moved to wrap her in his arms and lovingly stroked her face, arms and legs as she calmed.

Opening her eyes she was overcome by the look of pure love emanating from his soul. Every muscle in her body turned to jelly and she began to again shake with desire. “Oh Harry, I love you so much” she breathed as she pulled him down to take her lips again.

He moved his body fully on top of her and she wrapped her legs around his waist, their kiss breaking only long enough for him to say “I love you with all my heart Mione.” He slid inside of her slowly and they began to move together in perfect rhythm, as if it had been only days that they had been apart, not years. They moved slowly at first, wanting to savour the sensations of the feeling the other’s body so intimately connected with their own; their arms wrapped around each other playing up and down the expanse of skin that was them joined. They never stopped kissing; long, languid kisses broken only by the soft moaning of both. Hermione ran her hands over the planes of his chiseled back down to his backside and grasped at him, pulling him further inside of her, and he began thrusting faster and harder not being able to contain the fire exploding throughout his body.

Feeling them so close to their release they gazed into each other’s eyes knowing what each needed. They smiled as they simultaneously said “Mione. My Mione,” and “Harry My Harry.”

With one final movement they exploded together, their bodies convulsing in the joy of their love.

They lay joined together long afterward, Hermione unwilling to release him after so many years of his absence. He reversed their positions so he wouldn’t crush her and held her to his chest, running one hand through her hair and the other in circles over her back.

“Hermione, I don’t have words to, to tell you…” Overcome with emotion, he couldn’t finish his sentence.

She lifted up to look at him & placed a finger on his lips. “You don’t need any my love. I know.”

They kissed again for what seemed an eternity.

They both hoped it would be.
But there was one more person they needed to tell first.
Benedict.

*Later*

Hermione awoke with the same smile on her face she had fallen asleep with. The smile of satisfaction.

They had spent hours just laying together absorbing the enormity of what had transpired, glorying in the ability to once again touch & love each other. They talked for hours about their lives while apart & how they had missed each other. They finally fell asleep spooned together, his arm wrapped tightly around her & resting on her stomach, her fingers interlaced with his. She now lay awake in this same position, saying a silent prayer of thanks to God for bringing him back to her. I could stay here like this forever, she thought; or at least all day today. They had 10 years of catching up to do; of talking, laughing, loving.

Suddenly she realized that it had also been many years since he had seen the way she looked first thing in the morning. Hmm, maybe I should save the rats-nest hair, sleep-filled eyes & pasty-colored skin for another day & go take a shower, she thought. Gingerly scooting out from under his arm she slid out of bed & stared at him for a moment as he slept. She had a feeling this smile was going to be plastered on her face for quite awhile.
===========

Luna was exhausted. She & Neville had spent the night in the emergency room at St Mungo’s waiting area and after finally getting his Gran settled in a room. In the early morning she had left for home to pick them up a change of clothes. She picked up the phone to give Hermione a quick call. When the answering machine picked up, she hung up the receiver & grabbed her purse. I’ll get some Muffins & stop over there on my way back to the hospital, she thought.
===========

The shrill of the ringing telephone jerked Harry out of his sleep. He had never thought Hermione would ever use a phone gain.

He lay in bed for a moment replaying the events of the prior night in his mind. If it was possible to die of happiness then someone better call the morgue, he thought. If anyone sees me with this dopey smile on my face they’re going think I’m high on firewhiskey.

It had been hard waiting all those years but the past few months had actually been worse- being so close to her yet having to conceal his identity; being close enough to smell her, to touch her, & having to restrain himself was the worst torture he had ever experienced.

Hearing the sound of the water running, he smiled wider & jumped out of bed. Quietly opening the door he stepped into the bathroom & moved toward the shower as he listened to her humming & singing; his breath catching in his throat as he peered through the glass door. Her head was tilted back as she shampooed her hair, the suds & spray running over her body. Lucky suds, he thought.

He silently slid the door open & stepped in behind her. Wrapping his arms around her waist he bent his head to her ear & breathed out, “need some help?”

“Aaahhh!!” She jumped as the soap shot out of her hand. “Harry! You startled me. I’m not used to having company in the shower.”

He spun her around & ran one hand up between her shoulder blades & the other down to her bottom pulling her flush against his already hard body.

“Well we’ll just have to rectify that now, won’t we?”

As she stared into his eyes that were already black with desire, a sly smile crossed her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck & said, “did you have anything specific in mind?”

“Oh yeah” he muttered as he took her lips in a ferocious kiss.

Hermione was on fire. Her passions had lain dormant for so long & now that they had been let loose they were raging out of control. She couldn’t get enough of his lips, his hands, the feel of his flesh in contact with hers as she rubbed her body on him. The feel of his erection pressing into her stomach only drove her frenzy higher.

“Touch me Harry. Please,” she whispered in his ear.

Only too happy to oblige, he dislodged her arms from his neck & moved her back up against the shower wall. Stepping back he ran his eyes over her & she thought she would melt & run down the drain with the suds. He reached out with his pointer finger & starting at her forehead he ran it down her nose, around her lips, over her chin & down her neck. Pulling back & grinning wickedly he said, “you mean like that?”

“Haarryyy…” she whined.

Reaching out again, his finger followed her shoulder line to the crux of her arm & then moved it down the outside of her torso, just skimming the side of her breast, down her waist & across to her belly button, where he swirled it around lightly before withdrawing again.

“Or like that?”

“HARRY pleasseee…” her voice becoming more insistent.

Kneeling down he placed both hands on her hips & ran them lightly down her legs to her ankles; then bringing them to the insides he slowly, tortuously began to move upward. As he reached her center he looked up to see her staring down at him, panting in anticipation. Nudging her legs apart he gently ran his finger over her, his body tightening as he felt how ready she was for him.

“Please Harry, touch me,” she whimpered.

Looking up again he growled “I have a better idea,” & snaked out his tongue to taste her. Her hands found his hair & she began moaning as he took her into glorious oblivion. His name was an unending chant from her lips as she hurdled toward completion, her legs giving way completely as she tumbled over the edge.

She slid down the wall into his waiting arms. Sitting back onto the floor of the shower he pulled her limp body onto his lap until she was straddling him. Her head rolled from side to side as his mouth moved unceasingly over her skin, his breathing becoming more & more labored as she leaned back & brought his head to her breasts while slowly grinding her hips into him. Feeling himself close to his breaking point he moaned out “Mione I need you, now.”

Quickly positioning herself over him she said “you’ve got me Harry, forever” as she sank down onto him & took them both into bliss, ’’you always have had’’…..
==========

They washed each other slowly, getting reacquainted with each other’s bodies & relishing the power they each found in a look or a simple touch. Stepping out he wrapped a towel around them & kissed her gently before folding her into an embrace. “I love you Mione. I can’t say that enough.”

“I can’t hear it enough.”

They kissed again & his hands began to wander over her body. Suddenly she jumped & giggled slightly.

He grinned down at her & his grip tightened. “Don’t tell me your still…”

“Harry, no, don’t…”

“Too late” he laughed out as he began tickling her mercilessly.
========

Luna heard noise in the direction of the bathroom so she made her way down the hall. Just as she was about to call out for Hermione, she heard the laughter. Male & female laughter. Holy mother of Merlin, Hermione must’ve slept with Dan! Finally!! This is going to call for some major girl/girl talk.

Hermione’s voice invaded her thoughts. “Harry, stop, please- Harry!!”

Harry? What the??

Before she could register anything else the door flew open as Hermione attempted an escape.

The three of them stood frozen in place staring at

each other for a moment. Harry quickly yanked the towel that was hanging haphazardly around them & covered himself, leaving Hermione naked. Hermione stood looking at Luna, who in turn stood there quite serenely .

And Luna, being well, Luna, stood there and ‘’Oh hello there Harry’’ how have you been keeping’’?

Hermione looked at her stood in the middle of her hallway..

“Well I guess THAT was inevitable.”

Harry escorted Luna to the living room . Looking worriedly at Luna he said “I’m so sorry Luna’’

Luna chuckled. “Harry, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten I have a certain inner sight. This is to be expected, although I did expect you five years ago not ten!’’

“Yeah, I remember, but this is, you know, a little weird.”

“Oh & telling her that you guys were were off to confront Voldemort at 17 wasn’t?! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. Why don’t you go & get dressed?” She watched him scurry off thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind looking at you in that towel all day, though’ Harry you really are quite a man now‘’.

Hermione went to put on her robe & when she returned Luna was coming around.

“ I’m tired but now I’m seeing things- I thought I saw you & Harry in the bathroom.”

“You did.” Hermione cut right to the chase.

Luna looked at her slightly bedazzled. “I knew there was something familiar about *Dan*’’ That explains a lot of things’’

“Luna, Harry is Dan. Or Dan is Harry. Anyway Dan was- I mean Harry was using occlumens on us so we wouldn’t recognize him. The whole time Dan has been here it’s really been Harry.”

Luna’s eyes were ready to pop out of her head. Nothing unusual you say in regards to Luna‘s normal demeanor but still … “Oh Merlins beard, what-“

They sat on either side of her explaining how he’d returned to Scotland & met with Oliver Wood & then made his way to find them. Oliver knew Hermione’s son loved Quidditch and since Oliver ran a training school it was rather easy to start there. Then preparing himself for her impending scolding, Harry began to explain why he had concealed his identity from them.

“I understand,” she interrupted.

Harry & Hermione looked at each other & said at the same time “What?”

“I understand. Why you couldn’t tell her. I mean you can’t just walk back into someone’s life after all that time & say ‘Hi! I’m back!’ I would’ve done the same thing.”

Hermione was incredulous. “Luna I can’t believe YOU are able to remain calm about this.” ‘’I would have thought you would have well, freaked out a little.’’

“Well it makes sense, Hermione; what if you had married or whatever. He had to scope out the scene first.”

Harry was relieved. “Well you certainly took it better than Hermione did,” he said grinning. “She hit me.”

“Yes, well I can see that too. So why did you decide to tell her last night anyway?”

They both blushed as Hermione explained about the kiss & the images. Luna began laughing. “What’s so funny?”

“Well, I mean, it’s ironic, isn’t it? After almost 8 years of me trying to get you hooked up with someone you finally go for it & it turns out to be Harry! I should’ve known.”

“Known what?”

“That you would never be attracted to anyone besides Harry. That you wouldn’t have sex dreams about anyone else.”

“LUNA!!”

“You had sex dreams about me?”

“Oh god, can we please talk about this later?”

Luna became serious again & looked at Harry. “Did you come alone? Back home ?”

Hermione reached out & held her hand as he related the story of Ron’s death . When he was finished they all had tears in their eyes as Hermione said “Luna, I’m sorry.”

Luna forced a smile as she wiped her tears away. “It’s OK; he lived out his life and was a brave brave man Harry, & I’ve lived mine.” She looked at Harry & took his hand. “I’m sorry Harry. That you had to go through that.”

He smiled at her & pulled her into a hug. He had always loved Luna; she was weird & quirky & bouncy & loyal & compassionate- she was a true friend to him all those years ago & he was thankful she had stuck by Hermione in the years since.

Pulling away she said, “OK, well now I could really use butter beer.” As Hermione made her way into the kitchen to get the butter beers Luna and Harry did some catching up….
When she was done she looked at them both. “So what happens now? What about Ben?”

“Well I haven’t really given it any thought yet.”

“What? Are you kidding? Hermione you know how he feels about his father- how could you not have thought about telling him?”

“Luna I just found out last night & I’ve been, ah, busy.”

“What the hell was more important- oh.” She looked at the two of them with flushed, embarrassed faces and began to laugh. “Oh Merlins staff, some things never change.”

“Luna!” ‘’did you keep your glasses on Harry’’
Hermione turned a nice shade of scarlet and Harry promptly burst out laughing.

“Oh for goodness sake Hermione, lighten up. You were practically a born-again virgin; you have the right to swing from a few trees.” ‘’But you still have to watch for Nargels you know. It is afterall their mating season’’

“Oh dear god, please shut her up. Please.”

Harry laughed briefly, then turned serious as he addressed them both. “Do you think that Ben will be really upset?”

Luna shot Hermione a look & out of the side of her mouth said, “you didn’t tell him?”

“No, I did, & yes, I’m sorry Harry but I think he’s going to be upset. Really upset.”

“Really mad & upset,” said Luna. “He’s a perfect combination of the two of you- your sensitivity & her temper. Mad & upset. Bet on it.”
Harry had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had been elated at discovering that he had a son & he so wanted to become a part of his life. To think that he might be rejected by him & how being in the middle of it Sensing his pain Hermione walked over to him & laid a hand on his shoulder. “Harry, we’ll deal with this. Don’t worry.” He took her hand & kissed it as he smiled at her in gratitude.

Luna squealed. “Oh my, you two are starting with the gooey-eyed stares already; I’ve got to get out of here before I go into sugar shock. Look, my advice to you both is not to delay in telling him. He knows the second anything is up with Hermione. He’ll be angrier if you keep it from him any longer. Harry, be patient with him; he’s going to be very confused & will probably say and/or do some things he normally wouldn’t do. He’s a wonderful person; he’ll come around, just be patient.”

Harry stood up & pulled Luna into another hug. “Thank you for everything Luna; for being there for him, for being so good to him & Hermione. If I couldn’t be here with them I’m sure glad that you were.”

I’d do anything for them Harry; & I know they would for me.” Luna smiled at Hermione & then looked back at Harry. Narrowing her eyes & lowering her voice she leaned into him & said, “don’t hurt her Harry, she’s been through too much already. Or you’ll have to answer to me.”

Knowing her too well he took her very seriously. “I won’t Luna. I love her. I’ll do whatever I have to do to make her happy.”

“Good boy. OK, I have to get going, Neville is going to think I got lost. Wait until I tell him what took me so long!”

Harry immediately became alarmed. “Uh, wait a minute, how are you going to explain how I ‘changed’ my appearance & all to him?”

Hermione & Luna both started to smile. “He knows, Harry,” Luna said. “I told him Harry’’ something reminded me about you and he said ‘’what if it is Harry’’ ‘’ well you can imagine my surprise but I though Neville was just humouring me’’….

‘’I have to get going, but I will see you both tomorrow okay?’’
‘’Hermione remind Ben to floo me please, I’ll be in the office all day and I would love a talk to him first’’….
Hermione nodded and they stood there while Luna departed for home with the good news……

Monday morning came around far too fast for Hermione & Harry. They had spent Sunday making love in almost every part of the house. Even when they had gone into the garage for some ladders they ended up doing it on her weight bench after Harry told her how turned on he got while watching her work out. She felt like a teenager again, unable & unwilling to control her desire for him.

Today would be very different though; her son would come home & find out that that his father had returned. Hermione had taken the day off from after owling Headmistress McGonagall & get back home to greet him when he arrived; when she had done so she thought she’d be excited about hearing about his trip, not anxious about his reaction to what she knew would be possibly unwelcome news to him.

The sound of the running shower tore her away from her thoughts. Closing her eyes for a moment & recalling the previous day’s water sports she began to smile. Paybacks are a bitch, she thought, as she rose & made her way to the bath.

=======
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” They were standing at the front door locked in an embrace. Harry’s concern was written all over his face; he didn’t want to leave her alone to deal with telling their son.

“Harry I really think it’s better if I do this by myself. He’ll be more comfortable with just me. We’ll talk to him together tonight after you get home.”

Home. She considered this his home. He broke out in an ear to ear grin. “OK, but promise you’ll owl me if you need me.”

“I will. And Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve always needed you.”

He gifted her with another dazzling smile and whispered “I know what you mean,”
before kissing her breathless.

Hermione reluctantly pulled away from him. “All right, you’d better get going or I’m going to attack you again.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Go! Have a good day. I love you.”

“And I adore you. I’ll see you tonight. Good luck.”

Hermione was a nervous bundle of energy all day. She vacuumed the house, without magic cleaned the bathroom, did three loads of laundry & worked out, all the while going over in her head what she was going to say to her son.

Luna called in on her late in the morning. “Hey Mione, what time will Ben be home?”

Hermione smiled to herself. “I’m not sure exactly; he called last night & said it should be sometime in the afternoon, I think.”

“You don’t remember? I thought you’d have pinned him down for an exact time.”

“Well, when he called I was a little distracted. I’m pretty sure he said the afternoon.”

Knowing full well there was only one thing that could distract Hermione’s attention from her son she teased, “oh, & what was distracting you Hermione?”

“You’re evil, you know that Luna?”

“No, I’m a friend who’s happy for you.”

“Evil, evil, evil,” Hermione repeated, laughing. “How is Neville’s grand mother?”

“Actually, physically, according to the doctors she is doing really well. Mentally, however is another story. sHe is freaking out about changing her diet. You know how stubborn she is.”

“Yes, it always amazed me how Neville is the polar opposite of her & yet they get along so well. How is Neville holding up?”

“He’s okay, just exhausted. We’ll be home tonight; I’m sure he’ll crash as soon as his head hits the pillow. So anyway, have you figured out what you’re going to say to Ben?”

“No. I’ve been thinking about it all morning & I’m going crazy. I’m really worried about his reaction Luna; you know we’ve never had an argument & I don’t know how I’m going to handle it if he freaks out.”

“Hermione just do what I said- be honest. Ben loves you & will listen to you. And Neville & I will be right behind you. Listen I have to run, be strong, everything will be OK. OK?”

“Yeah, thanks Luna;

“ I’ll call you when we get in tonight.”

It was a little after 3 PM when Ben arrived home. Hermione flew out of the cottage & practically pulled him out of the car before it stopped & began hugging & kissing him.

“Mum, you’re embarrassing me,” he said, but made no move to make her stop. Truth be told he had missed her just as much. They had never been apart even one day in his whole life & he had spent most of his non-Quidditch time over the weekend worrying about her. She had been so upset when he had left & when he had spoken to her yesterday she had seemed distracted. He had been getting a weird feeling through their connection all morning, but he just chalked it up to her anxiety over his trip.

“I don’t care. I missed you so much,” she said as she kissed him again. She turned to Keelans’s father & thanked him for inviting Ben & bringing him home safely, then linked her arm through Ben’s & walked inside. Hermione listened intently as he happily filled her in on all of the events of the weekend. She was glad that he had had such a good time, but she was thrilled that he was home safely.
He finished his tale & asked her “so, what’s going on here?”

She immediately tensed up. Here we go, she thought; just how do I begin to tell him…

“Tell me what Mum?” He had picked up their connection & could feel her turmoil. “What’s going on? Is it uncle Neville’s grandmother’’?

“No, sweetie, she’s going to be fine, as long as she listens to the healers.”

“So, what do you need to tell me?”

“Um, well, something happened that we need to talk about, ah…” She was twisting her hands in her lap & looking everywhere but at him.

“Mum you’re starting to freak me out. What happened? Are you OK? Did something happen to you?” Ben’s fear was increasing by the second; they were always direct & rarely nervous with each other. What could possibly be so bad that she was stumbling over her words & couldn’t look at him?

“No honey, I’m fine; it’s just that, ah, someone unexpected showed up this weekend.”

Ben’s entire body tightened. Who could have been here to upset her like this? His eyes narrowed & his voice was low as he asked “who?”

Hermione finally looked him in the eye & she heard Luna’s voice inside her head- ‘just be honest Hermione.’ She took a deep breath & said simply “your father.”

Ben was frozen stiff. He couldn’t have heard her right. I mean, what are the odds that the only time in his life he left her HE would show up? He shook his head and said again “who?”

“Your father, Ben,” she said gently. “And actually, it turns out that he’s been here for a while.” She was going slow, trying to gauge his reactions.

“What do you mean?” His voice was tight as he tried to control the storm beginning to rage inside his head.

Hermione swallowed hard, knowing firsthand how he was going to feel when he heard this. I should probably explain why he hid himself before I tell him that it had been Dan all along, she thought.

“Well, he went to scotland first & saw Oliver Wood who told him we lived out here, but that was all he told him. He didn’t know anything else- like if I had married someone else; he also didn’t tell him about you. He couldn’t just show up after so many years & say ‘Hi! I’m back’, he had to find out what was going on in my life (thank you Luna). So he kind of disguised himself so he could-“

“It was Dan,” he interrupted. “It was Dan wasn’t it.”

“How did you know?” She couldn’t believe he was able to figure it out so quickly; she had been blocking their connection so she knew he didn’t extract from her.

Ben stood up, obviously agitated. “I’m not an idiot Mum. He showed up out of nowhere, took an awfully keen interest in us from the beginning…” His words trailed off as his thoughts began to crystallize. This explains why he had bonded with Dan so quickly; normally Ben, much like his mother, held strangers at arms length. A puzzled look then crossed his face. “Wait a minute, you said that I looked just like him- I don’t look like Dan.”

“He did something using Occlumens to make us think he looked different than he actually does.”

He stopped pacing & looked at her. “So what you’re telling me is that not only did he desert you, not only did he leave you hanging for what, like over 10 years, he finally decides to show up & he LIES about who he is, he MANIPULATES our MINDS? He found out he had a son & his first reaction wasn’t to say ‘hi, I’m your Dad, I’ve missed out on your entire life but I’d like to get to know you now’, no, his strategy was to lie & try to weasel his way into our lives?”

“Ben, please try to understand. Please put yourself in his shoes for a moment.“

“No Mum, that’s not possible. Because I would never do that. I would never have abandoned you in the first place.”

“Ben he did not abandon me. We have gone over this a hundred times, & that is not the issue here. I’m not going to lie to you; I was also angry when I first found out that he had deceived me, but after I thought about it I realized that he had no other choice. Your father is not the kind of person to force himself on anyone. He would never barge in & announce he was here & expect me to fall all over him. That’s not his style.”

“No, his style is to choose to go to a place he’d never been for people he’d never met to fight some war because he had been handed a prophecy . His style is to run away from people who loved him to let them live in suspended animation & not have a life.“

“That’s not true Ben. First of all, I told him to go to help people. Help end this suffering that Voldemort and his followers had caused.. I accepted that a long time ago. And excuse me, but I did, I DO have a life. You are my life. And you have never once heard me complain about him or the way my life has turned out. It was my choice, Ben; & I’d make the same choice again even knowing what I know today.”

“I cannot believe that you can sit here & defend him. Taking a deep breath & softening her voice she continued. “But you should know me well enough to realize that no one tells me what to think or feel. I have loved him since I was 14 years old & that has not changed. You have never met him, you don’t know what a caring, sensitive, honorable person he is.”

“Yeah & there’s a good reason for that Mum. He wasn’t here. You may be willing to make excuses for him but I’m not.” He turned & started for the door.

“Ben where are you going? We’re not done here.”

“I am. I have to get out of here.”

“Ben please!” Her please fell on deaf ears as he was already out the door & climbing over the fence heading towards the stream.
She knew it was frugal to go after him in such a state so she called Luna to warn her hurricane Benedict was heading her way……


Just keep moving.

Like a mantra, that thought kept running through his mind as he left the cottage and ran to Aunt Luna‘s. He always went there when he was upset or just needed some space to do some thinking. Now he was trying to run away.

Just keep moving.

He was sprinting down the banking at full throttle, his mother’s words haunting his every stride.

“…disguised himself….sensitive, honorable person…not his style…loved him since I was 14…”

Just keep moving.

Other thoughts clashed for time in his mind. His father was here. The person he had once longed to know and then came to hate was here, disturbing the happy existence he & his mum had created. They didn’t live in a reality that included evil twisted wizards & danger. Now he had brought that all to them in one selfish move.

Just keep moving.

Selfish. That’s exactly what his father was. He selfishly left his mother alone to chase after some twisted self styled lord. He selfishly stayed there until all of HIS business was taken care of. He selfishly returned & expected to be admitted into their family.

Finally slowing down he fell to his knees, panting for breath. How could his mother even begin to think that he would accept any of this? How could SHE have forgiven him so easily? After all, the bastard had hurt her the most. It was the reason why he hated his father so much- wasn’t it?

============

“So how do you think Ben will take the news about his father’s return?” Neville was questioning Luna as he flopped down on the couch.

“Well, you know how he feels about his dad; I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”

“Poor Hermione. She must be flipping out about this. When is she going to tell him?”

“When he got home today. I told her to be honest & direct. He will know something is going on with his mother as soon as he looks at her, so she might as well just deal with it & get it over with.”

“You’re right. Listen, I’m exhausted, is there enough time before dinner for me to catch a nap?”

“Get some rest love, I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.” Luna kissed Neville on the forehead as he settled in and made her way to the kitchen. The sound of a shout of * hello * made her peek out the window.

Oh, this doesn’t look good she thought as she made her way to the door to let Benedict in.
============

Why did this have to be his “long” day at school? He had spent the entire day staring at the clock attempting to speed up the passage of each class, worrying about Hermione telling their son about his return. When the final class was over he had run to the great hall and down to the apparition point (he still hated flooing home) He had been tense all day but around 3:30 he had felt like someone punched him in the gut. Through their strengthening connection he was picking up Hermione’s emotions & he was going insane not knowing exactly what was happening.

Arriving home he immediately noticed that Ben’s holdhall was there in the hallway & he felt her broken heart like it was his own. He raced into the cottage calling her name as he moved from room to room searching for her. When he got to her bedroom he stopped dead in the doorway, his heart breaking at the scene before him.

She was curled into a ball on the bed, her back facing the door, trembling from the sobs wracking her body. From the pile of tissues on the floor next to the bed he could tell she had been there for a while.

He had fought important battles, had experienced destruction & the deaths of many including his closest friend, but nothing except leaving her all those years ago had ever made him feel this bad. She was distraught because of him. He wanted to die.
==========

“So she told you.”

Luna never beat around the bush about anything. It was very obvious to her that Ben knew about his father’s return. The look on his face said it all.

“Yes. She told me.” He followed her into the kitchen & gave her a half-smile when she handed him a glass of pumpkin juice, just like she had done when he was a child & would come running in after he fell down or was upset about something. “I don’t think its going work this time, Aunt Luna’’

She kissed the top of his head & sat down. “I know this must have blown you away Ben. None of us really saw this one coming.”

“There’s the understatement of the day.” He looked up into her eyes & her heart clinched. He looked so lost & hurt & confused. “Aunt Luna how could he- how could he-“ he was struggling to find words to express the myriad of emotions flowing through him. “How could he come back & lie to her? And how could she accept it so easily? Like nothing ever happened? Like she hasn’t spent the past years agonizing about him? How?”

“Because she loves him. That might seem trite but that’s the reason, Ben; your mum loves him beyond sadness & pain & separation.”

“But he LIED Aunt Luna ; he messed with her mind to do it, & she’s acting like it’s no big deal.”

Luna chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t say that’s exactly true Ben. Did she tell she punched him?”

“What?”

“Yes, apparently her initial reaction was not a happy one & she hit him. Judging from the bruise I saw on his jaw she got him pretty good, too.”

“Good.”

“Ben, don’t be that way.” She took his hand in hers as she continued. “Listen to me. You know that I would never lie to you, especially about anything concerning your mum. I know this man. He is honest, compassionate, faithful, & he worships the ground your mother walks on. He’s just like you. Your mother is the only woman he has ever loved, & he would do anything in the world for her.”

“Except tell her the truth. He was here for months & didn’t have the balls to tell her. Some wizard.”

“Ben, use your common sense. They have had no contact in years & you just expect him to knock on the door & announce himself? What if she had married- had a family-“

“She does have a family.”

“Exactly. He had to find out where her life was at before jumping in again. And quite frankly, from your reaction, I think he more than did the right thing.”

“How can you say that? Are you telling me YOU wouldn’t have been annoyed?”

“Think about this Ben. I realize that you haven’t had the experiences he has- thank God- in needing to conceal your gifts; but surely some part of you does understand his need for secrecy. Your mother has spent your entire life being careful of anything & everything for your sake. He had to do the same in return for her sake.”

Ben stared into his empty pumpkin juice glass. Like his mum, he hated when Luna made sense. She was just so damn hard to argue with. She was zany, erratic but usually so damned perceptive.

Placing two fingers under his chin she turned his face toward hers.

“This is about a lot more than he & your mum, isn’t it.”

Damn. How did she know that?
======

Harry gently crawled in behind Hermione & wrapped his arms around her shaking body. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” was all he could say. She gripped his arms & cried harder; she could feel his agony at her condition & didn’t want to upset him further but she was unable to contain her sorrow.

Finally calming down enough to speak, she turned to face him. “You have nothing to be sorry about Harry.”

“This is my fault Hermione; I made you upset-“

She wouldn’t allow him to finish. “No. You made me the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m not going to let you beat yourself up over this Harry. No.”

He kissed her forehead & caressed her face. “What happened? Where is he?”

“Well, he was very upset about you concealing yourself. We never really finished talking; he ran out I’m not sure where he went.” As she said that her eyes filled with tears again. There hadn’t been a single moment in her son’s life that she hadn’t known where he was or what he was doing. That she didn’t know now was killing her as much as the argument they had. She could only hope he had gone to see Luna..

“Do you want me to go look for him?” He didn’t have the faintest idea where he’d search, but he’d go to the end of the earth if she wanted him to.

“No, he needs some time. I’d know if something had happened to him. Through our connection.”

“Like ours?” Harry knew they were incredibly close but he hadn’t realized that Hermione & her son also shared a connection.

“Yes, but even stronger. We can communicate telepathically. Not just feelings like you & I, but words.”

“Ah, mione? Actually, um, I, uh, i can do that too. I’ve been blocking you from tying in with me but I’ve been tuned into you for a while. Like I said, fine-tuning my, uh, skills.”

She pulled back a little & looked at him sternly. “What?”

“Well, living upstairs from you for these past months was not easy for me; I wanted you so much & couldn’t even touch you, so I did the next best thing. I visited your thoughts. But only when you we’re dreaming, I swear. I didn’t want to violate your privacy but I figured dreams are not really real…” He trailed off, looking away from her, realizing he shouldn’t have done it & fearing her reaction.

Her eyes were boring holes through him. “How long has this been going on?”

“Ah, I guess since I first got here.”

She suddenly remembered the dream she had the night they had come back from the M.O.M & flushed. She & Harrywere having sex in the bedroom & Harry morphed into Dan at the end.

“Um, yeah, I saw that one,” he admitted upon hearing her thoughts.

She turned crimson & he immediately felt bad. “Hermione, don’t be embarrassed; I was thrilled. To know that you still wanted me that way, as much as I did you, gave me hope. I’m sorry, I just wanted to be near you in any way I could be. If we couldn’t share our conscience thoughts I wanted to at least share your unconscious ones. I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t do that again unless I know. Ben & I have a rule- you must ‘announce’ yourself. OK?”

“OK.” He paused for a moment. “Listen, maybe I should leave the house for a while. To give you both space. I’m sure he’s not going to be happy to come home & see here’’ “You’re not going anywhere. Believe me I understand how hard this is on him but the bottom line in all of this is that he is going to have to deal with this & accept that you are here. He has to accept who he is & where he comes from. I love you both. And I’m not willing to let either one of you out of my life.” ‘’not again’’….

As he gently kissed her she could hear his thoughts clearly. Every one of them sang of his love for her.

Ben stared at Luna; being a boy , he didn’t want to delve to deeply into the Pandora’s box of his ruminations on his father. So being a boy, he simply replied “what?”

“You heard me. This is not so much about your mother & father as it is about YOU & your father. Am I right?”

Damn. How did she do that? She acts all ethereal but deep down she is very clever.

“Ben, it’s only natural that you have feelings of anger toward him. He was absent from your life. You’re angry that you didn’t have a father. . . There’s still time to have a father, Ben .he’s here now & that’s what is important.”

“It’s more than that Aunt Luna.” Could he really tell her this?

Luna knew not to push him so she held his hand, silently encouraging him to open up more. Ben knew he had to put a voice to his thoughts or he’d spontaneously combust, so he forged ahead.

“Aunt Luna, all of my life I have felt like an outsider. Even with you & Neville & Mum. I can’t talk to my closest friends about it. I’m different. I’m so so different.”

Luna squeezed his hand. “All the more reason for you to try to get to know your dad. ‘’your dad is a highly intelligent man and so is your mother’’..‘’These feelings- listen to me Benedict James, he felt the same way growing up. It tortured him, until he hooked up with your mum. She loved him into sanity. No one has a perfect life Ben; that’s a fallacy created by the press. You feel alienated, . Everyone does.”

“That’s just it, Aunt Luna,” he said as a tear rolled down his cheek. “For my whole life there was someone who understood- but he chose not to be here. I don’t think I can accept that.” ‘’I’m the son of the great Harry Potter’’

Luna got up & wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind & held him as he cried. “Someone is here now who understands. Don’t walk away from your chance, Ben.”
===========

Hermione lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Luna had owled a few hours before & told her about Ben’s visit. She had waited all evening for his return so they could talk more but he hadn’t come home. She was a mass of nerves, worrying about both Ben & what would happen when they would see each other again. She had sent Harry upstairs hours ago to avoid a large conflict upon her son’s return; now she was counting the knots in the ceiling beams above her bed.

Suddenly she sat bolt upright. He was home; she could feel him. She decided to wait for him to come in to say good night to her, as he always did when she was already in bed when he came home.

She heard the sound of his bedroom door close & she rose & made her way down the hall to his room. She froze in her tracks at what she heard next.

Click.

The sound of his door being locked. He never locked his door. Never. She retreated to her own room & lay down to cry again.
=========

Hermione was still tired when she awoke, having tossed & turned all night. She wanted to speak to her son as soon as he was up so she rose & went toward his room. Finding it empty she assumed he was in the kitchen having breakfast. Finding that room empty also she looked out the window to find his broom gone.

Her eyes narrowed & the hair stood up on her arms. He thought he could avoid her? He thought wrong.

After quickly dressing she made her way to his prep school. Marching through the halls to his class she could feel her anger pulsing through her veins. Arriving at the door, she knocked loudly and waited for the teacher to appear.

At the sound of the knock the bottom dropped out of Ben’s stomach. He knew immediately that she was there. And that she was pissed. This wasn’t going to be pretty. He didn’t wait for the teacher to tell him to come up front, he just rose & made his way to the door.

Standing in front of each other in the empty hallway they both began to speak at once. She held her hand up for him to stop.

“First things first. Don’t you ever disappear & not tell me where you are going again. Second. Don’t you ever come home & not talk to me before going to bed. Third. Don’t ever think you can avoid me or a problem between us- we talk things out in our house. I am not to be ignored until I go away. I’m not going away Benedict. Neither is this problem until we all discuss it.”

“Look Mum, I’m sorry if I worried you, but I’m not going to accept this lying down like you did. And I’m not going to discuss it with you until I’m ready to. Especially not here & now. I need some space & I don’t think I’m out of line asking for it either.”

He was being defiant. At least as defiant as she had ever seen him get. She knew that they would get nowhere if they continued on this path. “Fine. You’ll get your space. But remember this Benedict James- we ARE ALL going to deal with this. All of us, understand? This is not going away. HE is not going away.”

Ben looked at her for a long moment before turning to go back to his class.

// I love you Ben. //

He looked back at her in time to see a tear roll down her face. Leaning over & kissing her cheek he choked out “me too Mm.” Then he disappeared behind the classroom door.

Tuesday and Wednesday passed with no discussion of the topic. How can you discuss something when one of the parties isn’t around to speak? Ben had made himself scarce, not wanting to see either of his parents and especially not wanting to see them together. Hermione gave him his requested space even though it was killing her, relying on Luna to reinforce that what she was doing was right.

By Wednesday night she was wound like a top. Her son wasn’t home, they still hadn’t talked, and she didn’t know how to resolve everything- she felt like she was going to explode. She needed to release some tension.

Harry sensed her arrival before she knocked on the loft door. Sliding it open he found her barefoot, clad only in a nightshirt & looking at him in a way that made his entire body stiffen.

“Make me forget for a while Harry. Please.”

Wordlessly he reached out for her hand & led her into his bedroom. Standing behind her he pulled her sleepwear over her head & began to rub her shoulders in small circles. Leaning in to brush his lips from her ear down her neck he used their connection to send her an avalanche of feelings of love. His hands glided down her arms & he took her hands in his & wrapped both of their arms around her waist. They stood there for a while as she soaked in all that was her Harry. Her friend. Her protector. The love of her life.

She turned to face him & looked into his eyes, seeking to lose herself in their depths. His hands gently brushed her hair back before he began placing soft kisses all over her face. When he finally kissed her lips her thoughts had all melted away until the only thing running through her mind was the way he was making her feel.

He couldn’t stop kissing her. Not that he didn’t want to do a lot of other things to her also, but at the moment he couldn’t seem to remove his mouth from hers. He was also stressed out; the past couple of days had been hell watching & worrying about her. He hadn’t seen their son at all; he came home late at night & left early in the morning. He was honouring Hermione’s wish to give him space but it was killing him to see what it was doing to them both. She was right. They both needed to forget for a while.

While their mouths were fused together their hands found other places to explore. Hermione ran hers up & down his arms, into his hair, down his chest, anywhere she could reach. Harry’s hand had taken a more direct path, moving down her back to her bottom, then around to the outside of her hips & up, then back over her bottom in a slow massage. She broke away from him long enough to pull his shirt over his head & then she attached her lips to his chest, kissing, sucking, & licking her away around that glorious expanse of skin. Her hands did not remain idle as they popped open the snap to his trousers & lowered the zipper. Sliding both hands inside she drew a sharp breath as she realized there was no barrier between his pants & his skin. “Harry…” she growled out as she began to move him backwards until they were at the bed. Hermione quickly pulled the offending garments down & pushed him down to sit on the edge of the bed; then kneeling down she pulled them off completely. Running her hands over him she parted his thighs & moved in between his legs. She returned her lips to his chest as she trailed her tongue over his stomach, gently urging him to lay back. Moving downward she smiled as she heard his sharp intake of breath when she took him fully into her mouth.

Harry’s head was spinning. Her hands & her tongue where driving him insane, drawing her name from his lips in a continuous moan. His hands found her hair & he lost himself in the sensations she was causing as her mouth moved up & down his shaft. Only when he felt her hand cup him & her fingers started to play with his sac did he come out of his passion-induced fog and jerk away from her choking out, “Mione, no!”

Hermione looked up at him in confusion. “I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”

Placing his hands under her arms Harry lifted her up & leaned his forehead against hers while gasping for breath as he attempted to regain some semblance of control. “No, baby, I’m just so close, & I’m not ready to be finished yet.” After a minute he looked at her with such desire she thought she’d faint. “This is about you, anyway.”

Moving them both onto the bed he climbed over her & groaned as he looked down to see her naked beneath him, hair wild across the pillow, skin flushed, & her eyes heavy with lust & staring at his mouth. He leaned his weight on his arms so as not to touch her, & then bent his head & ran his tongue around her lips before capturing them in a long, sensual kiss.

Once again he couldn’t stop & they lay together kissing & touching. “Oh god Mione,” he panted out as they broke apart for air, “if this was all we ever did I’d still be happy.”

“Well I’m not as easy to please,” she said as she grabbed his face with both hands for another kiss.

“Tell me what pleases you Hermione.” It was a command growled into her ear & it made her gasp at its forwardness.

He licked his way from her ear to her shoulder & nipped at it as one hand began to tease the outside of her body from breast to hip. He could feel her desire for him & also her embarrassment at the thought of answering his question.

“Please baby, tell me what you want.” Softer, coaxing her this time.

Hermione gasped again & felt a scorching heat race through her body, both from embarrassment & from the thoughts of just what she did want him to do to her. “Harry, I can’t…”

“Yes you can Mione; tell me where you want me to touch you.”

“Oh…” She swallowed hard, trying to find the courage. Deciding to help ease her anxiety he cupped her breast & rubbed his thumb over her already hard nipple. “Do you want me to touch you there?”

“Yes.” It was hardly more than a whisper.

After fondling her a moment longer he dragged his hand down her torso & ran a finger lightly through her curls.

“How ‘bout there?”

“Yes.” It was louder & more forceful this time, as she rolled her head back & opened her legs to him. He ran his finger around the outside of her lips & she began to gyrate her hips, trying to urge him on.

“Tell me Mione.”

She no longer cared about being embarrassed. All she could think about was how much she wanted him to touch her.

“Inside me. I want it inside of me.” As soon as the words were uttered she felt a finger slide in & begin to stroke her slowly. Then his voice was in her ear again.

“Is there anything you’d like me to do with my tongue?”

A loud moan was his answer as he bent to her breast, & placing his lips around a nipple he sucked as his tongue quickly flicked over it. She grabbed his head & held him to her while continuing to move on his hand.

He pulled his head up to take in the sight of her writhing under his attentions. There was something else she wanted but was to shy to ask. But he had no intention of making this easy.

“Hermione, is there some other place you’d like to feel my tongue?”

“Oh god Harry” was all she could say.

“Mione…”

“Yes, Harry, please, please…”

“Tell me mione- is it here?” he said as he lightly rubbed his thumb over her clit.

“Yes, please!” She was desperate now, twisting her body as she attempted to move more fully into his hand.

Not being able to wait any longer he moved his head between her legs & snaked out his tongue over her length; finding her nub he tongued it as he had her nipples.

Hermione was in a frenzy. The feeling of his fingers & his tongue working together were indescribable & she couldn’t contain herself. Her head thrashed back & forth & her hips grinded into him as she flew over the precipice, screaming his name.

He moved up & held her as she trembled violently in the aftermath, then went limp & lay, eyes closed, safe in his arms. Her leg brushed against him & her eyes opened slowly to find his face tight with need.

“Harry” she breathed as she reached out to stroke him. “I want you inside me, making love to me……..’’

He grinned devilishly at her. “Now was that so hard?” Then he moved between her legs & swiftly entered her causing them both to groan out in relief. Their eyes locked as they loved each other to perfection & completion, each calling out the others name as her wish came true.

They held onto each other fiercely for a long time after, eyes still locked as their connection said everything words could never express.

When Hermione reluctantly began to move to get up he reached out & pulled her body back into his. Now it was his turn to plead. “No mione, please, stay.”

She ran her fingers through his hair & replied in a soft voice “I should go before Ben comes home.”

After a moment they both rose. He picked her nightshirt up from the floor & pulled it over her head, then led her to the door. After kissing her passionately he cupped her face. “I want you to be able to stay Hermione.”

“I know Harry. Soon. Please.” Her eyes begged his patience as much as her voice.

She kissed him again, then disappeared down the stairs.

Hermione heard her son come home a short time later. He stuck his head in her bedroom & said “I’m home Mm. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight Ben.”

His heart broke at the sound of her sad voice. He knew his distance was hurting her, but he had decided what action he was going to take & knew she would be able to dissuade him in no time if he let her in now. He had to stay away, even though he’d rather die than hurt her.

“I love you Mum.” It was a plea more than a statement.

“Me too Ben.” She listened to his steps retreat down the hall as she began to cry once again.
==============

It woke him up like a bomb going off in the apartment.

He could hear her through the floor, but more than that, he could hear it in his mind, feel it in his veins. Her blood-curdling scream.

Harry jumped up & ran down the stairs to the bedroom door of the cottage. Finding it locked he held out his hand , muttered Alohmora & and it swung open. He then raced in to find her crumpled on the floor of their sons room clutching a note & hysterical.

“Hermione, in Merlin’s name, what happened, what’s the matter?” he said as he knelt down to take her into his arms.

She was unable to speak through her sobs so she handed him the note.

‘MUM- I’m going away for a few days. Please understand I need to do this. I will be careful. I’m sorry. I love you. Ben.’

He rocked her in his arms trying to calm her as his mind raced. This is my fault- have to calm her down- should flool Luna- have to find him- this needs to stop.
He smoothed his hands over her hair whispering “ssh, mione, it’s OK, we’ll find him, it’s OK” over & over.

As her crying abated she looked up at him & his heart shattered at the complete devastation he saw in them. “Oh Harry, why did he do this, where did he go?” Fresh tears poured down her cheeks as she clutched him.

He stood up with her in his arms & sat them on the bed, still stroking her hair as his eyes roamed the room. They halted when they came to his desk. He extracted himself from her grasp & went over to it, finding what he was looking for in a pile.

“Hermione? I think I may have an idea where he went.”

He sat down next to her & handed her the admissions booklet from the Annan Prep school… “He told me that he wanted to go to the open house with you. It’s this weekend.”

She looked blindly at the book for a moment, then closed her eyes & seemingly went into a trance. Harry watched her nervously not knowing what was happening.

Her eyes opened & she looked at him clearly. “He didn’t go to Annan.”

“He went to Oxford.”

’Hermione, have you tried to connect with him again?”

“Yes, a little while ago, he’s still blocking me.” She’d been trying all morning to no avail. Luna had told her to expect that when Hermione had called to explain what was happening & that she & Harry were going out to Oxford on the next available portkey. Luna had been incredulous at the news. “What do you think he went to Oxford for Hermione? To do what?”

“I have no idea, Luna, but I’m so pissed & upset right now I really don’t care why. I just want to find him before I kill him, know what I mean?”

“Yes I have to admit, I’m shocked at him. I didn’t think he’d ever do something like this. You two be careful.”

“We will, & I’ll call you & keep you updated.”

Harry reached for her hand as the finally landed in Headington “We’ll be there soon, Hermione; I promise we’ll find him. Everything will be OK.”

When she turned to look at him he saw a hardness in her eyes he’d never seen before. Her response was dead serious & chilled him to the bone.

“It had better be, Harry, or I’ll kill you.”
==================

Ben had been walking around Oxford town centre aimlessly for about an hour. He wasn’t even sure why he had gone there, it just seemed like the logical place to start. To start what, he didn’t know either; but he had felt drawn to the place where her parents had met & where their lives had been so altered. He was searching for answers to questions he hadn’t formulated yet, but knew when he did, he’d find them in Oxford.

He decided to check the more rural area & began to walk around. He hadn’t been there since he was a toddler when he visited cousins of the Grangers one summer but it hadn’t changed much from what he remembered. He wandered in & out of the little shops not seeing anything, as his mind was busy trying to decide a course of action & also keeping his mother blocked out. He had felt her trying to connect with him all day but he wasn’t ready to deal with her just yet.

Being so preoccupied he never noticed the figure shadowing his movements through the town.

“================

Dunlin ducked into a doorway and snickered to himself as Ben stepped out of one of the GAP shops in the shopping arcade. How stupid could the boy be, he thought. Watching Ben cross the street toward some Italian themed diner he decided that this was as good a time as any to make his move.
======================

Ben stood outside the bank, off to the side peering in the window .He was so engrossed in his thoughts he never noticed the small man come toward him. He had a fleeting thought of his mother as he felt the sharp pain at the base of his skull & the world went black.
======================

Hermione was about to ask Harry something when a sharp pain shot through her body & she went limp, folding to the floor in a heap. Harry grabbed her shouting “Mione! What’s wrong!”

She came out of her fog & looked at him. “Something happened to him. I felt it.” She waived off the passer by who was offering to call a doctor. “No, I’m fine, just haven’t eaten.” Turning to Harry she muttered “let’s just get to a taxi.”

Once outside in the car she tried to connect with her son again. “Nothing. I’m not getting in.” Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she said, “let’s get to Headington, Harry. Hurry.”

They headed straight for Headington..Harry felt that Oliver Wood may be able to help them; maybe someone had seen their son. Oliver still knew everyone in town, surely if someone had seen him Oliver or Katie, his wife, would hear of it.

As they climbed out of the taxi they heard Katie wood (Bell) calling their names. Aware that they were coming to Oxford because Luna had alerted her parents, she had spotted them & was jumping up & down waiving at them. “Just then she passed through the spot that her son had been standing in when Dunlin made his move. Hermione froze in her tracks & went into a trance. She began shaking violently from head to toe before she fainted dead away on the sidewalk.

Harry dropped to his knees next to her & cradled her head in his hands. “Hermione, ’’oh what now, please Mione.” He was frantic as Katie ran up to him.

“Bring her inside Harry; put her on the couch in the back room.”

Harry scooped her up & strode through the premises of the woods training school, to the back room where a very surprised Oliver Wood was taking a floo call. Katie was right behind explaining to her husband what had just happened.

“I’m going to get a potion for her head,” said Katie as she hurriedly made her way to the bathroom.

Oliver looked at Harry & got right to the point. “What’s going on Harry. Luna just flooed & filled us in on what she could.”

“I don’t know, we saw Katie & then Hermione fainted.” As he finished she stirred, her eyes opening & she looked at Oliver strangely for a moment until she realized where she was.

“Hermione, are you all right, what happened, are you hurt?” Harry was peppering her with questions; afraid she may have injured herself when she fell. She looked up at him with haunted eyes.

In a small voice she said, “someone stunned him Harry. Outside of the bank. I saw it when I passed the spot where it must have happened. He was hit from behind & taken away…” Her words ceased as she began to cry & Harry pulled her into his arms.

“We’ll find him Hermione, I promise you,” he said as he tried to soothe her, his voice eerily steady. He had shifted into battle mode, a position he had become all too familiar with over the past years.

He’d find their son. Then he’d kill whoever had taken him.

Dunlin sat cross-legged contemplating the unconscious person tied up in front of him.

Something was different about the chosen one. He looked younger than Dunlin remembered. And there was something else, though he couldn’t put his finger on it. Suddenly Ben began to stir & Dunlin stood up, waiting for him to become aware of his surroundings.

The only thing Ben was aware of at the moment was the throbbing pain at the base of his skull. And that he was laying on something cold & hard. He opened his eyes & jerked himself upright, wincing immediately at the constraints which held him bound.

He looked around the dimly lit cave & saw some strange old-looking torn things on the wall, then noticed that someone was standing to his left. He stared at the stranger for a minute before asking, “who are you?”

Dunlin didn’t reply; he continued staring at Ben. Something was definitely up- the boy didn’t recognize him? How could that be? And there was something about his eyes. They were different- larger, rounder, a deeper brown colour than he remembered. Ben interrupted his thoughts. “I said, who are you? And why am I here?” Ben had never seen anything like the things in the cave before.

Dunlin squatted down & looked at him a moment longer before he replied, “so you don’t remember me? I thought I’d be hard to forget, considering our long & colourful history.”

“Our history.” It was a statement meant as a question.

“Our history’’. Surely you haven’t forgotten ’’ He spat out the last sentence.

Ben remained silent as he registered the meaning of his words. This person thought he was his father. That meant this person was a death eater And considering that he had kidnapped him & tied him up, he was probably a rogue one.

Oh oh.

“Unsure of yourself Potter‘’?
Dunlin was strolling around the cave as he spoke; then turning suddenly he crossed the room & knelt down in front of Ben. “Perhaps I need to see just what is inhibiting your memory.”

Before Ben knew what was happening Dunlin grabbed his head & connected with him. He quickly released him & stared at Ben menacingly.

“All right, suppose you tell me why you chose to kill my wife, my sister and my brother in law eh??.”

Oh oh. Oh dad…..
=================

Hermione was wildly pacing around a back room at Oliver’s offices. Harry or Oliver would get her to sit down but she would last only a minute before she was up & moving again.

Harry had explained everything from his return to Scotland up to the present to Oliver, who was now contemplating the situation. He looked at Hermione and asked, “you didn’t see who hit him or where he came from?”

“No. I felt a sharp pain in the back of his head & then blackness.” She turned & addressed Harry. “It was the same pain that I felt at the portkey point. That’s when it must have happened.”

oliver asked, “what time was that?”

Harry took out his gold pocket watch Hermione gave him for his 18^th birthday. “About an hour and a half ago.”

“Well, they could be well on their way to anywhere by now,” Oliver mused aloud. “Hermione, can’t you connect with him? Maybe he can tell us something.”

“He hasn’t let me in all day. I can try again.” Hermione sat down & closed her eyes & concentrated on her son. She gasped suddenly & said “BEN!”
======================

“Answer me. Who are YOU,” Dunlin demanded.

Ben didn’t know what to say, so he replied “I asked you first.”

Dunlin leaned in close to his face & ground out “you do not want to fuck around with me. Tell me who you are or ’ll just kill you now.”

Ben knew he wouldn’t be able to lie about his identity, so he said “Benedict. Benedict Granger-Potter.”

Dunlin didn’t move away as he said, “I know who you are Harry James Potter ‘’

As he finished speaking Ben could feel his mother trying to connect with him again. He knew he had no choice now- he needed all the help he could get, so he opened up to her immediately.

// Mum.

Oh my God Ben, where are you, are you all right? I know something happened.

Mum, I’m OK now; I was in a holding cell but I don’t know where . I’m in some kind of cave with some guy. He’s an rogue death eater & not a good one. He thinks I’m Dad.//

Hermione froze instantly & looked at Harry. “You were followed. Rogue death eater has him but he thinks it’s you.” ‘’Ben has aged himself again’’ ‘’Harry he does that under severe stress’’

Harry grabbed her hand. “Hermione, let me connect in with you both. I need to know what’s going on.”

Hermione closed her eyes again & summoned her son.

// Ben, I’m here in Oxford with your father. He is connected with us right now. He can hear both of us. You have to tell him everything you see & hear, OK? //

Hermione was praying that her son would not reject his father’s interference.

// OK Mum. //

Hermione squeezed Harry’s hand to signal him to communicate.

// Ben, can you hear me?

Yes.

Do you know who is holding you- has he given a name?

‘’Yes . His name is DUNLIN’’ He wants to know why I killed his family’’. I gave him my name but he said he knows I’m Harry Potter & he’s looking a little impatient about it right about now.

BEN BE CAREFUL!!! // Hermione screamed out in his mind.

Dunlin narrowed his eyes as he thought about what he’d seen when he connected in, or more importantly, what he hadn’t seen. He didn’t see anything to do with the dark lord or the war, just images of people & places that Dunlin didn’t recognize. Except for one- he clearly saw the brunette brown-eyed woman who was in almost every scene. This person obviously had a very strong connection to him. He couldn’t help but feel that he knew who she was somehow, & that she was a key in deciphering his identity.

“Perhaps I should go & find the pretty brown-haired woman who is obviously so important to you. Maybe she will fill me in on who you are.”

“NO!!!!!” Ben screamed as he attempted to get up, only to be reminded of just how tight his restraints were. “You stay away from her.”

“Then start talking POTTER.”

Ben stared back at Dunlin unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to give this guy too much information but he also didn’t want him anywhere near his mother, especially now that she too was in Oxford. He had to stall, he needed time to think, but he knew that Dunlin wasn’t going to give him any so he decided to give him a few breadcrumbs to see if that would buy him some time. Maybe if this guy finds out that I’m not who he’s looking for he’ll let me go.

“I told you who I am. Ben Granger- Potter is my name. The person you’re referring to was my father. I’ve never met him.”

Dunlin stood bolt upright. Potter had a son? How was it that he had never known that? He had never heard anyone mention that Potter had a family . This changed everything.

// Ben, are you still there? What’s going on? // Hermione had felt his flash of anger & then him leave their connection. She had a death grip on his father’s hands as she frantically tried to connect again.

// Yes Mum, everything’s OK. He really wanted to know who I was-

BEN. Listen to me. // His father was in full leader-mode; he knew if this death eater had come for him & discovered that he had a son that it would make things even more dangerous for Ben.

// Ben. Do NOT tell him who you are. Do not tell him you are related to me, understand?

Uh, too late. I had to tell him. He threatened Mum if I didn’t. //

Hermione’s grip on Harry’s hand tightened further. She too understood the possible repercussions of an enemy of Harry’s finding out that he had a son . She had lived in fear of it all of her son’s life.

Harry felt her hand squeezing his & knew that he had to calm her down; he also knew that the only way to do so was to keep their son from getting hurt. To do that he needed to know what he was up against.

// Ben, I need to see who is holding you. You have to concentrate really hard. You have to be my eyes. //

Hermione was immediately alarmed. “He doesn’t have those powers.”

Harry cut her off. “Yes he does. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

// What do you need me to do?

Open yourself up to it Ben.

To what exactly.

To the life force. It’s all around you. It’s between the three of us.

Let me get this straight. Are you saying ‘let the force be with you?’’’you know like those muggle movies’’….

BENEDICT! This is no time to be a smart-arse‘’! // Hermione barked in her son’s mind.

// Mum, I’m not trying to be funny. Believe me this is the most un-funny situation I’ve ever been in. //

His father took control again. // It’s an life force. It surrounds us all. Because of your advanced intelligence we ‘connect’ with it- it’s what our inner powers are derived from. Your mother has the ability because I gave myself completely to her & it enabled her to- I’ll get into that later. Close your eyes & look inside yourself. Feel the power within you. Feel it reaching out all around you. Feel it encompassing your mother & I. Feel its return to you. Its connection with you. //

He fell silent as he gave his son time to try what he had asked of him. He was giving him a crash course in a somewhat difficult thing to do, so he turned to Hermione. “We have to help him mione. Do the same thing I just told him to do- feel the energy between us. Feel Ben with us inside that energy. Send it to him.”

Hermione immediately started to concentrate on their connection & began to feel the current of electricity that ran through it. She threw every ounce of herself into following its path, when she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of- completeness, was the only way she could describe it. She was completely connected to the souls of the two most important people in the universe to her. She could feel the energy flowing between them freely, and it made her feel totally alive. She couldn’t help but gasp “Ben!”

// I feel it too. // He had felt his mothers awe & he too was enveloped in the completed puzzle that was the 3 of them linked together.

// Good Ben, now this is what I want you to do. Open your eyes & without drawing attention to what you’re doing, look around you. See everything for the energy it’s made of. Feel it. Look at him. See him. Show him to me. //

He prayed his son would be able to project his surroundings & his captors face to him.

Ben lifted his head as he opened his eyes. He took in the topography of the walls of the cave, the strange carvings/rune type symbols on the walls & the light pulsing through them slowly, translating his visual observations into a flow of energy. His eyes finally came to rest on dunlin, who was deep in thought across the cave from him He took him in slowly, completely, willing his appearance to his father.

Hermione gasped as the images ran before her eyes. She knew where he was. She looked at Harry who said “Dimitri Dunlin. I should have known.”

“They’re in the sorcerers caves , aren’t they Harry?” she asked.

“Yes. The light in the runes- that’s the gateway. It’s hidden behind them. Hermione froze. “Do you think he’ll take Ben-“

“Hermione, I’m the one he wants. He’s not going anywhere without me. This guy & I go way back.”

“Let’s go then. We have to get out there.” Hermione was already up & moving towards the door.

Harry halted her with a hand to her arm. “Hermione I don’t want you going-“

She stopped him immediately. “That is my son out there. Hell could freeze over & I’d put on snow shoes to get him. I’m going.” The look on her face let him know she wasn’t asking his permission.

// BEN we’re on our way // he signaled to his son.

// Please hurry dad, please please hurry. //

Dunlin had been pacing around the cave, head in hand, deep in thought, for a long time. Ben watched him carefully, glad his captor was engrossed in thought; the longer he was preoccupied the more time it bought for his mother & father to get there.

His father. He actually was thinking in terms of having a father for the first time, and contrary to his feelings over the past week, he was damn glad his father was around and on his way now. “If I hadn’t pulled this stupid stunt of coming out here by myself, none of this would be happening,” he bitterly thought. “My mum wouldn’t be heading into danger.” He knew there was no way he was going to escape Dunlin without his father’s assistance. He didn’t have the knowledge or control his magic that his father had. “If I get out of this, I’m never leaving home again. Mum will get sick of me under her feet,” he thought. He knew he was bargaining with himself, but he had to think of something besides the mean-looking death eater stalking around the cave.

Dunlins’ mind was racing. Potter had a son, who claims he never met his father. Heir to the founders?? The potter linage was in the line of Godric Gryffindor . Did he even know this? It didn’t seem so, but none of that was of great importance to Dunlin right now. What was important was that he now had to kill Potter and his son; but first he had to get Potter to come to him. “Well, I’ve got the perfect bait right here in front of me,” he thought as he eyed Ben. “I’ll kill them both and take their bodies back to Bulgaria with me to prove that the last of the Gryffindor line is dead. Poor ,dear, Godric…what a shameful waste….

Settling on his plan of action he crossed the space between them and knelt in front of Ben. “OK Junior, time to get Daddy and invite him to our party.”

“What?” Ben asked, slightly confused.

“You are going to connect with Potter- your father- and tell him where you are. Being the gallant fool I know he is, he’ll come running to rescue you. And I will be waiting to give him the welcome he deserves.”

Ben didn’t want to let Dunlin know that he was already on his way, so he said, “I can’t connect with him. I’ve never met him. I don’t even know where he is.”

“You don’t need to know where he is you idiot, you’re his son, you have a permanent connection- oh fuck, I’ll do it myself,” Dunlin spat out. He grabbed Ben’s head between his hands and began to summon Potter.

Harry and Hermione were portkeying down towards the cavesin silence; both engrossed in their own separate agonizing thoughts. “Harry what is it?” asked Hermione.

“Dunlin is trying to connect with me.” Harry closed his eyes and listened to the smug voice that was filtering into his mind.

// POTTER, are you out there? Tis I, your favorite unfaithful subject, out of jail and wanting to chat. //

Harry’s hands balled into two tight fists as he grimaced at the sound of Dunlins’ voice.

// What do you want Dunlin.

Now now, what kind of a greeting is that? I came a long way to this pathetic country to find you. But instead of you, I found something far more interesting, and valuable, as it turns out. Care to take a guess at what it is? //

Harry knew he had to play his cards very close to his chest; he didn’t want Dunlin to know that he was already on his way to find his son. The element of surprise was something he needed on his side right now.

// Don’t be coy Dunlin. What are you talking about.

I’m talking about meeting the 2^nd heir of Gryffindor…. Pity though, he claims to never have met you. What a shame that he’s not going to get the chance, seeing as how I’m going to kill him.

‘’DUNLIN so help me, if you touch a hair on his head I’m going to fry you from the inside out‘’.

‘’Oh spare me Lord Gryffindor‘’. ‘’We both know you don’t have the balls‘’.

‘’What do you want’’ .

‘’The same thing I’ve always wanted- your head on a platter, right next to your best friends‘’. But now that I’ll have the three of you, maybe I’ll mount your heads on the wall in MY home, to remind the simpering wimp’s back home who has the real power.

‘’You’re dreaming as usual.’’

Am I Potter? The way I see it I’m already one head ahead of you- oh, I made a pun. Ha ha.

‘’Leave him alone‘’. I’m the one you want.’

No funny stuff‘. If you want to see him alive you’ll meet me at the cave entrance on the north side .alone. Soon.

I’ll be there. //

Dunlin withdrew his hands from Ben’s head. “Well Junior, looks like you’re going to meet Daddy after all.”

Harry grabbed Hermione’s hand and they began to silently climb the rock formation from the far side of the entrance to avoid detection. He stopped them when they came near it and crouched down behind a large boulder. Hermione remained quiet as he surveyed the scene, but finally couldn’t contain her anxiety and said “so what’s the plan?”

“Um, well…” Harry trailed off; truth was he didn’t know what the next move should be yet. Hermione’s eyes grew large as she said “please tell me you have a plan, Harry.”

“The plan is to get the three of us out of here alive. It’s the details that are a little fuzzy.”

Hermione couldn’t contain her anger. “A little fuzzy?” she hissed. “You’re a freaking descendent of Godric Gryffindor, isn’t this your forte?”

“Hermione give me a minute here. Do you realize how hard it’s going to be to get in there? This is going to take a lot of thought.” That was only half the truth though; the other half was that he had to figure out how he was going to get her to remain outside. He did not want her in the middle of a showdown between he and Dunlin.

“Damn it,” Hermione exclaimed.

“Hermione give me a minute-“

“No, damn it, I have to pee. I’m going to go back behind that rock” she was pointing to a large one perched on the side of the formation behind them, “and when I get back I want to hear the plan.” She shot him a determined look before disappearing behind the rocks.

Harry watched her leave, and seizing the opportunity to get inside without her he silently made his way to the hidden entrance. He paused momentarily knowing she would be furious with him for leaving her behind to worry about what was happening inside. He shook his head to banish the thoughts from his mind and reached out his hand and placed it on the rock. After a moment it began to glow and the hidden door slid open. Plastering his body to the outside wall he paused again. Once he was sure Dunlin wasn’t near the opening waiting to ambush him he silently slid inside and began to slowly make his way into the interior of the cave. Deep in concentration as he was, he failed to see a very pissed off looking Hermione slip through the opening just before the door slid shut. She followed him inside, hanging back enough so as not to be seen. Spotting a small space in a large rock pile just before the entrance to the chamber room, she quickly hid herself, deciding it might be better to be an observer initially.

Harry’s eyes darted around the cave in panic when he didn’t immediately see his son. Suddenly a voice as annoying as nails scraping along a chalkboard rang out.

“So good of you to come Lord Gryffindor, and so quickly too. I wasn’t expecting you just yet.”

Jerking around to face him he replied “cut the crap Dunlin, where is my son.”

At the sound of his fathers voice Ben called out from behind Dunlin “Dad!”

Elated at the sound of that simple word, he turned to see Ben sitting on the floor with his hands bound behind his back. Relief flooded over him that not only was he alive, but he appeared to be unhurt. Father and son stared at each other a minute before Dunlin sarcastically said “oh, isn’t this a beautiful moment. Long lost Daddy meets boy Lord-not-to-be.”

Quickly connecting to his son he said // I’m going to need your help here Ben. //

Harry tensed up. // I’ll try, but I don’t have control over my powers like you do.

It’s OK. I’m going to distract him- keep him talking. I need you to concentrate on moving a rock and knocking him out with it. Can you do that?

I’ll try. //

Looking at Dunlin, Harry growled out “let my son go now.”

Dunlin snorted. “Do you really think that I’d come all this way to kill you so I could take you out and leave your heir alive? No, I’m going to kill you both and take your bodies back to Bulgaria…

“I think you’ve gotten way ahead of yourself Dunlin. You’ll have to catch me first.”

As he finished his sentence, a rock rolled off a ledge above him and knocked him unconscious.

Dunlin’s’ thin lips disappeared as he smirked. “Oh yeah, that was REAL hard.”

Tucked in her hiding spot, Hermione buried her head in her hands. Could this possibly get any worse? She peeked through a crack in the rock pile and watched as Dunlin dragged his limp body over toward her son. He bound his hands and left him lying next to a very stunned and scared looking Ben.

Think Hermione, think! She knew that her son were no match against Dunlin’s superior powers. They needed the now unconscious Harry awake or none of them would survive, and as quickly as possible. And there was only one way that was going to happen.

Hermione connected in to her son. // Ben, it’s me- stay calm. I’m inside the cave with you. I can see you now.

MUM! Where are you?

See the big pile of rocks on the left at the beginning of the corridor? I’m hiding in a pocket in the middle of them.

Mum I’m so sorry, this is all my fault. He asked me to throw a rock at Dunlin & I hit him instead.

It’s OK Ben; we’re going to get out of this. Listen to me. You’re going to have to heal your father.

How Mum, I have to touch him, both our hands are tied, and Dunlin is right in front of us.

We’re going to have to create a diversion to get him out of the way for a minute. Do you remember when you were little how you used to freak me out by making noises come from rooms that were empty? That’s what you’re going to do. See the light coming through the hole in the wall across the cave? Project some loud noises from there; as soon as he heads in there manoeuvre yourself over toward your father and touch him wherever you can. I’ll come out and help you, but you’re going to have to be fast. OK baby?

I can do that Mum. Just please be careful.

Do it now Ben. Time is short. //

Ben easily projected a loud banging noise from inside the chamber; and as Hermione predicted Dunlin immediately moved to check it out. As soon as his back was turned Ben began to squirm toward his father and moved in close enough that he was able to reach out his fingers and touch his leg. At the same time Hermione accioed Harry’s wand & silently made her way out from behind the rock pile and over to her son. Upon reaching him she joined her hands to his to increase his power. The sleeping Harry began to stir, and his eyes flew open at the sound of Hermione quietly calling his name.

“Hermione! How the hell did you get in here?”

“Later Harry, we have to get out of here first,” she said as she tried unsuccessfully to undo the bonds with a simple spell that tied their hands. “Shit, I can’t get these things loose.”

“Nor will you be able to my dear.” ’ your wand will not work in here. Not unless you know wandless magic which I’m sure you are not capable of’’… Three heads shot up to see Dunlin coming back from the back chamber. “You didn’t think I’d use some inferior spellto hold a Lord, do you?” He sauntered toward them slowly as he took in Hermione’s arrival. “The pretty brunette from Junior’s mind is here. How nice. Another person to kill.” His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “Well let’s see; since you’re too old to be his girlfriend, I’ll guess you’re his mother. Which means you slept with Lord Idiot here. So Potter, she’s the reason you never took any of the women kept in slavery eh?All this time I thought you were gay; turns out you had a whore here all along. She’s quite a looker; no wonder you wanted to come back to this hellhole. Maybe I’ll have to try her out myself.”

Both Harry’s body exploded in anger, yelling out obscenities at him as they struggled in vain to stand.

Dunlins’ hollow laughter filled the cavern. “Merlin you’re both pathetic. And over an mud blood .” He raised his hand and pointed at father and son. “And I am tired of you both. Time to say bye-bye.”

As he began to send a thunderous bolt of energy hurling toward them, Hermione sprang at him from the side with a jumping scissor kick to his arm, sending the murderous ray bouncing harmlessly off the walls. Before he could regroup she spun around and kicked him with all her might square in the chest, sending him sprawling backwards onto the floor, his head slamming onto the rock-hard surface and knocking him out.

“Good shot Mum.”

“Good shot Mum.”

‘’A thousand Galleons in kick-box lessons finally pay off,” she said running back to them.

“Hermione, help us up, we’ve got to get these bonds off before he comes to. We’ll have to use the sword,” said Harry.

“How?” Hermione asked as she pulled each of them up on their feet and they made their way toward the light-filled chamber.

“We’ll connect and use our link to help us to melt the bonds.”

As they entered the cavern Ben. gasped. “What is this thing anyway?” he said as he gazed at the huge pulsing green light-filled tunnel.

“Ben, face your back to mine and intertwine your fingers with mine. Good. Hermione, put one hand on top of our joined hands and touch the link within ourselves with the other. We’re going to concentrate to channel the energy to break these ties. Ready?”

Hermione and her son looked at each other and nodded. She reached her arm toward the light and she could feel the energy pulling her toward the cavern face. As her hand made contact a loud humming could be heard, and the three of them felt the intense surge of energy pass through them. Suddenly the clamps around their wrists began to glow and then dissipated into thin air.

As soon as their hands were free Hermione threw her arms around her son, and looking over his shoulder said to his father “please get us out of here now.”

From the far side of the room a snarling voice was heard. “Not so fast mudblood.”

Harry shoved Hermione and his son behind him as Dunlin stalked his way toward them.

They turned to find a fuming, Dimitri Dunlin in the opening. “What is that saying Potter? Oh yes- the family that plays together, dies together.” With a poisonous look on his face he seethed, “you’re going down first Potter.”

As the words left his lips the Cavern began to hum & shake again. They all jerked back away from it as bright coloured lights swarmed around the room and the air crackled with magic. Suddenly a form began to take shape inside.

Hermione was the first to speak.

“Dumbledore.”

The brilliant light was emanating from the cavern walls was nearly blinding but the person inside was clearly visible. Clad in an ornate robe that obviously denoted higher l status, hair impeccably done and decorated with jewelled clasps, fingers displaying a different precious gemstone, it was Dumbledore in all his glory. As he spotted Dunlin his face tightened and his eyes blazed fire. Hermione thought briefly that he looked to be the epitome of the title ‘Most powerfull wizard’’

Dumbledore continued to stare at Dunlin and didn’t notice Harry, Hermione and Ben, who were behind his back, so he was slightly startled when Hermione ’s voice echoed through the cavern. “Hermione stay put. Dunlin can’t touch you as long as you’re in the inner chambers. He seemed to be floating on air as he turned, and upon seeing Harry his face broke out in a relieved smile. “Thank God Harry I was so worried…” His words trailed off and her smile grew wide when she saw Hermione behind him. “Oh Hermione.” His excited words abruptly ended when he saw the young man standing behind Hermione. There was no mistaking who he could be; he was the spitting image of his father with Hermione’s sleek brown hair and huge emerald eyes. “You have a son?”

“Dumbledore.” Dunlin’s’ thin, acrid voice prevented any answer to his question. “So you didn’t know about the heir apparent either. Seems your adopted grandson ,the new Lord Gryffindor, kept a few things from all of us, hmm?” He took a few steps toward the as he continued. “So, grandfather,come to defend your grandson from little ‘ol me. I’m honoured, that you view me as so important that you would be summoned in this way.”

“Don’t be honoured Dimitri,” Dumbledore ground out. “I came to warn him about your escape.” He turned and said, “I’m sorry Harry, I came as soon as I could.”

“Don’t be sorry Albus, it’s not your fault.”

“He’s right Dumbledore, it’s not your fault. It’s his.” Dunlin glared at Harry as he continued. “He should have had me executed, but his bleeding liberal heart couldn’t bare any more capital punishment. It is among the many bad decisions you’ve made Potter. Always concerned with fairness, equality, peace- your conscience is your greatest weakness Potter. You were too weak to kill me because you’d have a guilty conscience. ‘Murder is never justified. Not even as a punishment for committing murder’. Do you remember uttering those words at my sentencing? Ironic now, really, as they served to seal your own fate. Because I won’t make the same mistake you did Potter. I don’t have a conscience.”

Harry quickly connected to Hermione, his son and Dumbledore. // Albus, if I get hit, blind him with a power surge to the retina. Hermione, Ben, when he does that RUN for the cave entrance. Ben can open the door Mione, just show him where to lay his hand. Albus will detain him here as long as possible. Get as far away from here as possible but don’t go back to Oxford or Annan ; he will look for you there first. He will come back here though, to go back to Hogwarts. Albus when you get back assemble the order and have as many aurors stationed at the Caverns to intercept him when if returns.” //

Then in a clear steely voice he said, “I won’t make that mistake again Dunlin.”

Dunlin sneered as Harry began to raise his arm against him. “You don’t have the balls Potter.”

“The one who isn’t going to have balls is you, you twisted excuse for a wizard.”

Dumbledore’s voice boomed around the chamber. “Harry, wait.”

“I have to Albus. I won’t allow him to remain a threat to everyone I love.”

“No Harry; I meant I agree. I don’t want you to bear this alone.” Albus raised his hand and laid it on the stone . It began to shimmer as she said, “take my hand Harry. Let me help you.”

He looked up into his mentors’s eyes and saw the love and trust he hoped was reflected in his own. As he reached for his hand Hermione brought her own up and laid it over his. With tear filled eyes she said, “you’re not alone anymore Harry. Never again.”

Her son stood in awe as the scene played out before him. His father was a good man, a fair ruler- Dunlin’ s words had confirmed what his mother had told him. The appearance of his adopted Great Grandfather and his desire to shoulder his grandsons’s burden, as well as his mother’s display of her love and commitment to him moved him deeply. He reached out his hand and covered both Hermione’s and his fathers. They looked at him with wide eyes as he said with a slight smirk on his face, “may the force be with you.”

His father moved their three joined hands into the shimmering liquid that had replaced the stone where Dumbledores’s hand lay. When he felt him grasp their hands he raised his free arm up and pointed directly at Dunlins’ face. In a stately voice he pronounced “as Lord Gryffindor of the house of Gryffindor, I hereby condemn you to death for your treacherous crimes.” As the conjoined hands began to glow he added, “enjoy hell, Dunlin.”

The power that burst forth from harry’s outstretched hand was so immense it threw Dunlin across the chamber into the cavern wall. It only took a short time before his body was completely incinerated and only a pile of ash remained as a testament to his presence.

The deafening silence was broken by Ben.’s shocked “oh my dear Merlin.” Hermione turned an upon seeing her son’s pallid complexion and shaking body, she threw her arms around him and said, “it’s all right baby. It’s going to be all right now.”

The entire cavern began to shimmer as Dumbledore passed through it and materialized before them. Throwing her arms around her mentorss neck he said “oh Harry, I came as soon as I found out he’d escaped. I was so afraid he’d have found you and…and…”

Harry clasped his hands in his own as he said “it’s OK Albus, it’s over. He’s never going to hurt anyone again.”

As these words were spoken he pulled away from him and turned. “Miss Granger,” he said as he reached out. The two embraced and sobbed together. “Hermione it’s so good to see you. I’m so glad Harry found his way back to you.” Stepping back he cocked her head toward her fiance. Smiling he said, “he’s been a real grouch for the past 10 years, you know. I think it may have had something to do with you.” She then looked past Hermione to the young man staring at him. “Hello young man. I’m your Great Grandfather”

“I’m Benedict,” he said, holding out his hand to shake his.

Running his eyes over him he said “My dear lord Merlin, you are a perfect combination of the two of them.” His eyes began to tear as he ran hisands over his beard. “I have a great grandson.”

“He’s a good boy, Albus,” his father said. “Actually he reminds me of you Harry, ’’ . Except he doesn’t have your temper,” he added with a laugh.

“ I hope you’re happy now that you have found your Lady again.”

“Ecstatic,” he said as he gazed lovingly at Hermione.

“So you two are together again?”

“For as long as she’ll have me,” he replied, not moving his gaze.

“For eternity, Harry,” Hermione whispered.

“So, where will you live?” interrupted Dumbledore.

“We live in Annan, grandafther,” said Harry.

Dumbldore smiled at him calling him ‘Grandfather’.

It was silent for a moment before Harry took Hermione’s hand. “I don’t care where I am Hermione, as long as I’m with you. It’s your call.”

Hermione stared down at the ground before taking a deep breath. “Our lives are in Scotland, Harry.” Taking her son’s hand in hers, she saw him nod in silent agreement. “This is the only thing I’ll ever ask of you. I want to stay here.”

“Then so do I,” he said beaming at her.

“Well, I hate to bring this up Harry,” said Albus. “Dunlin was one of the the worst of your enemies but he wasn’t the only one. Eventually one or more will come here to look for you.”

Harry sighed deeply. He knew he was right; at some point an enemy of the house of Gryffindor was bound to come searching for him. If it were just him he had to worry about it would not be of any concern. But it was not just him now. “Then I have to make sure there is no way for them to get here.”

Dumbledore looked confused for a moment. “The only way you could do that would be to…oh Harry‘’.

“Now I’m confused,” Hermione said; “what are you two talking about?”

Harry looked at her and then at their son. “The only way to ensure that no one else comes here is to destroy the caverns.”

His son looked up at the massive chambers and then back to Dumbledore and Harry. . “Is that what you really want Harry?”

He placed both his hands on his shoulders and choked up at the emotion he saw raging in his large blue eyes. “Grandfather, I don’t have a choice. I wouldn’t survive if something happened to them because of me. This is the only way.”

“Oh Harry,” he cried as he threw his arms around him. They held each other tightly as they both cried. Albus pulled away first. “I love you Harry. You have been the best grandson I could ever have hoped for. And a great friend. I will miss you more than I can ever express in words.”
His words caused tears to flow from all four of them.

As he took his face in his hands he croaked out, “I love you to Grandfather‘’. There has not been a moment in my life that I haven’t known that you were the most amazing man in the universe. You have been my strength for the past 17 years. Without you to keep me sane I would have never made it.,. Thank you. For everything.” Dumbledore paused for a moment to let Harry’s words sink in, then said “You are going to make a great Minister for Magic, Lord Gryffindor.”

“What?”

“You heard me. As chief of the wizardgamot, I hereby pronounce you, Harry James Potter, Lord Gryffindor,’ the new Minister for Magic’’… It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“No Albus, no, I couldn’t.”

“Yes you can. You will. Our people need- no deserve- a strong minister Harry. There is no one I trust more than you . I know you will be fair and compassionate. You have the experience; And you couldn’t have a better advisor by your side than your future wife. Our people will be lucky to have you and Hermione as their leaders. Come here. Kneel down.”

Harry slowly sank to his knees, then raised his head to meet his gaze.

“Harry James Potter also known as Lord Gryffindor,Heir to the house of Gryffindor I hereby bequeath upon you the title of Minister for Magic & Minister of all inhabitants of the country of Great Britain. May Merlin himself (if he was here) grant you the wisdom, the heart, and the strength you will need to rule justly, compassionately, and courageously.” He laid his hands on his head and they began to glow. “There. I’ve transferred his seal to you. It’s how they’ll know you’re Lord Gryffindor now.” He pulled him to his feet as tears continued to stream down all of their faces. “

“Hermione, I hope you know how lucky you are. Please take care of him for me.”

“I do, and I will Albus. Good luck to you. I will never forget you.” They cried some more as they hugged each other. Albusl then turned to his Great Grandson.

“Well, I’m really sorry that we’re not going to get to know each other really. Good luck to you Benedict. I wish you a bright, happy future.”

As they embraced Ben said “and may Merlin be with you Grandfather’’

“Thank you Benedict. I’ll pray for you too. That way we’ll remain in contact, in a way.”

Albus turned back to Harry. “So now for a technical question. How are we going to do this? Destroy it, I mean.”

“Well, you’ll have to do it from your end. The seal I conveyed to you has the magical stream embedded in it to activate the implosion process. Lay your hand on the seal in the wall there and say ‘CARSICO.’ The magical signatures in there will take care of the rest. The caverns will, well, it will be like being sucked into a black hole. It will disappear.”

“Then I guess this is it then, isn’t it. “I love you Harry. Have a good life. All of you.” I will be watching over you all’’

He turned and moved through the shimmering walls of the caverns. After he entered, the ledge reappeared and the light once again became brilliant inside the chamber. He looked upon them all for a final time. “I love you all. May Merlin himself bring us together again in the next life.” With a final wave his form began to fade until the cavern was empty once again.

Hermione placed her arm on Harry’s shoulder. “Are you OK?”

He pulled her into his arms. “As long as I have you I’m OK.” He looked over at his son. “Hi. I guess we have a lot to talk about, huh.”

Ben gave him a half-grin as he replied “Yes. But do you mind if we get out of here first?”

“Good idea. Let’s go.” He led them out of the caverns into the bright sunshine.

“So what do we do now?” his son asked.

Standing between them, Hermione took each of them by the hand.

“We go home Ben.” ‘’We go home’’



Were nearing the end of this story, book one in the *open your eyes* series…
stay tuned and as always, your thoughts/musings are always appreciated


Prongs……..

NC-17

They spent the morning exploring the lake, Harry and Hermione in the canoe and their son paddling the kayak next to them. Later Hermione sunbathed as father and son did some fly-fishing, during which Ben questioned his father about the other realm were he was captured and what his life had been like while there. Later in the afternoon they all went swimming. After dinner they took a hike around the lake, so it was three tired people that arrived back at the cabin later.

Harry looked at his son and said, “you can have the room to yourself Ben, I’ll take the couch tonight.”

“Are you sure? ‘Cause it’s a king-size bed.”

“No, go ahead. It’ll be quieter out here I think.”

Hermione started laughing. “Oh, let me guess, snore champ here kept you up last night?”

“Well…”

“It’s OK Dad; when we went to the Final Four they put a pillow over my face to muffle the sound.”

His father started laughing also. “She would murder me if she ever knew I told anyone else this, but your mother used to snore so loud I could sometimes hear her through the walls . So maybe it’s some kind of genetic thing.”

They laughed together and then kissed each other goodnight. Harry settled on the couch with the same smile on his face that he had begun the day with. Things had gone really well with his son; he had been interested in hearing about the long conflict that had held his father bound, and also about developing his powers further. It was apparent that each of them genuinely enjoyed the others company; they had talked and laughed together all day long. He once again marveled at the relationship between Hermione and their son. They were so easy together, more like old best friends than mother and son, laughing and teasing each other constantly. It warmed his heart to watch his son with her; contrary to the indifference so many kids displayed toward their parents, Ben doted on Hermione. He obviously loved his mother very much. “Like father like son,” he said aloud to no one.

Visions of Hermione began to fill his mind. Her jumping on the bed this morning, her laughter as their son splashed her in the canoe, her excitement as their son helped him reel in his first-ever fish. Her soft smile, silky hair, and those gorgeous eyes that he drown in whenever he looked at her. His lovely Mione. Who was sleeping only a few feet away from his present position. Alone.

Harry rose and made his way silently into her bedroom. Standing beside the bed he watched her sleep for a moment, then bent down and began covering her face with soft kisses. She opened her eyes and smiled at him; raising her hand she brushed it across his cheek before bringing her lips up to meet his in a sweet kiss. “Hey,” she breathed out.

“Hey yourself, gorgeous.” He ran his fingers from her jaw over her cheeks and into her hair. “You want go swimming?” he asked with a wicked grin.

She kissed him again. “So you came in here to try to tempt me, huh?”

“No, I really want to go swimming,” he answered, not quite able to keep a straight face. “I’m all hot and sweaty laying out there all by myself.”

“Hot, huh?” Her eyes darkened as she looked at him; then sighing in resignation she said “that creaky front door will wake up Ben, and then he’ll ask questions.”

He smiled as he kissed the tip of her nose. “We’ll just have to make our own door then.” He pulled her out of bed, led her over to the window and raised his hand. Then, smiling widely, he dropped his arm and whispered to her “you do it.”

“What? I can’t do wandless magic Harry.”

“Yes you can,” he said as he took her hand and faced it palm up at the window. “Feel the energy- like when we connected with Ben to see Dunlin. Then picture the door and move your hand over the window slowly, “molding” the energy into a door.”

She closed her eyes and concentrated, then moved her hand slowly down the wall, elongating the window into a door. When she opened her eyes she almost screamed at what she had done. “Oh my God! I don’t believe it!” she said in an excited, hushed whisper. “I just imagined it and I did it!”

“You did great baby, but could you imagine a door knob so we could open it?”

She held her hand out again and after a minute sort of a knob appeared.

“Hermione? It’s kind of, ah, lumpy,” he said, waving his own hand over it to finish the job.

“Mr. Perfectionist.”

They quietly exited and made their way hand in hand down to the lake. “Oh how beautiful,” Hermione exclaimed as they looked out at the moonlit water.

“My thoughts exactly,” he whispered in her ear as he pulled her into his arms, kissing her. She pulled away after a moment and playfully said “how are we going to swim, we don’t have any bathing suits.”

He reached down and grabbed the hem of the T-shirt she had been sleeping in and pulled it over her head in one fluid motion. Placing each hand on her shoulders he ran them down her back, pressing her against his body. “You’re forgetting about your birthday suit.”

Her arms wound around his neck as his hands ran down and over her bottom pressing her closer still. “That’s why I love you Harry. You’re always thinking.”

“Want to guess what I’m thinking now?”

She shivered at the raw passion she heard in his voice. She stepped back out of his embrace and with a sly smile shimmied out of her panties, wanting to tease him a little further. She sashayed down to the lake and turned around to face him as she backed into the water. “Are you just going to stand there and stare or are you going to join me?”

He hurriedly stripped off his clothing and practically ran into the water as she giggled. “Are you in a hurry or something, Harry?”

He swam over to her and she moved herself backward, trying to elude his grasp. “Is there something you wanted Harry?” she said, still giggling at him.

He finally caught her arm and tugged her over to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Just the same thing I’ve always wanted. You.”

Her arms went around his neck as they floated along. “And now that you’ve got me, whatever will you do with me?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Maybe we could sing camp songs. Or build a sand castle. Or, wait, I have an idea.” He took her mouth in a fiery kiss, ravaging her with his tongue and leaving her breathless. He pulled away to find her eyes heavy with desire and said “or we could do that.”

“Yeah” was all she could say. As he always managed to do, he had turned the tables on her and was in control again, her teasing long since forgotten as she pressed her body against him and moved to kiss him again.

“So you like that idea? Because I kind of thought the sand castle thing would be fun.”

“Shut up and kiss me again Harry.”

He gladly obeyed her command. This time he was gentle, giving her slow kisses that left her whimpering for more. She ran her hands into his hair to urge him on, but he only continued his sweet kisses until she locked her legs around his waist and moved against him. In an instant his mouth was devouring hers and he began to move them out of the water, his lips never leaving hers. As he bent to lay her down on the shore she clung to him to keep her body from touching the sand. “Harry we’re wet, we’ll get sand stuck to us everywhere.” He quickly waved his hand over the patch of sand and turned it into a blanket. As he lay her down upon it she smiled at him. “I could’ve done that you know.” “Yeah,” he said as he positioned himself over her, placing one thigh between hers and running his fingertips over her cheek. “But it would’ve taken too long.”

He continued to caress her face as he stared into her eyes. “Hermione, today was incredible. It was the first time in so long that I felt… I felt…”

“Complete.” She finished his thought because she felt the same way. “Now I want to make you feel completely loved.”

Never removing her eyes from his she brushed his wet hair back and then ran her fingers down his face and along his jawbone, lightly down his neck and over his collarbone. She continued down his chest to his abs, reveling in the feel of his hard muscles under her soft hands. She loved the feel of his body and the feeling of power she had whenever she touched him like this. Feeling him open himself up totally in every way to her, sensing his needs and how much he wanted her made her feel like she could fly if he asked her to. As she folded her fingers down and ran the backs of her nails around to his back she raised her head to take his nipple in her mouth. His groan of approval made her heart soar.

Harry’s arms were shaking with the effort to hold himself still over her while her hands danced over his back and her tongue played on his chest. Each touch, each kiss, each lick caused him to moan softly which just made her intensify her actions in an effort to drive him insane. It was working.

When he couldn’t take anymore he brought her head up and lay on top of her more fully. Moaning “Mione, my Mione” before taking her mouth in a searing kiss, she felt his erection against her stomach and automatically responded by moving her hips. He ripped himself away from her and said in a breathless voice “don’t I get some time to explore too?”

Her voice was just as shallow. “I’m yours Harry.” She basked in a new wave of love from him at her words, and felt his lips burn a trail down her neck as his hands teased her breasts. Soon his lips were there also and his hands moved down her body, skimming up and down the length of her torso and then finally to her inner thighs. She could not contain the loud moan of pleasure that escaped her lips when he simultaneously sucked hard on a nipple and found her clit with his finger.

Lifting his head and smiling he said, “you know that sound is amplified when it travels across the water.” She could only answer him with a push to his head to bring him down on her other breast. Finally he couldn’t hold off any longer and brought their mouths together again as he spread her legs wider and began to enter her. She ended the kiss and breathed out, “I want to see your eyes while you love me, Harry.”

He gazed into her eyes and their connection blew wide open, their thoughts and feelings melding together until they were one. One being floating on a cloud of love, moving together in perfect rhythm, each feeling the intense pleasure their body gave to the other. “Harry you feel so good inside me,” she rasped out as her heels dug into the sand and her hands pressed on his butt to deepen his penetration. “Oh god, Mione,” was all he could reply. She was so hot and wet, and as he moved in and out of her he could feel her desire for more, and the thought that it was him bringing her such ecstasy was as gratifying as the feeling of her moving under him, clenching down on him each time he entered her. As their rhythm increased their emotions deepened, heightening their senses and deepening their desire.

Overwhelmed by the perfect feeling of Harry loving her, Hermione’s eyes slid shut and her neck arched as her head rolled from side to side. “Haaaaarryyyyyyyy…” She moaned his name in a never-ending chant, and with each utterance he plunged into her harder and faster. They both felt like they were drowning in a sea of pleasure.

Suddenly the strangled cry of her name announced his climax, and with a final pounding thrust he brought her home as well. Her entire body exploded in release as she continued to cry out his name. Their bodies were locked around each other, both unable and unwilling to release the other even after their breathing slowed to normal.

Harry rose above her and attempted to pull out of her. “No!” she cried, pulling him down and locking her arms around his back. “Please, not yet Harry,” she said softly. She looked at him with a slightly shy smile. “It just feels so good when you’re inside me.” He smiled down at her and with a long, deep, gentle kiss let her know he felt the same way.

They lay together silently, hands playing over each other’s bodies, trading sweet kisses, immersed in the feelings of love they sent each other. After a while he said, “I have to be crushing you Hermione,” and rolled them over so she was sprawled over top of him. He pulled the blanket over them and they fell asleep still joined together, heart, body, mind, and soul.

Just as dawn was breaking Hermione awakened. Shifting slightly in Harry’s arms she felt him hard inside of her; looking up, she was surprised to find him still asleep. She smiled and thought to herself ‘let’s see how long it will take to wake him up’. Placing her hands on the blanket on either side of his chest she pushed herself up and moved her knees so she could have some leverage. Slowly rising up she watched his face for any sign of wakefulness, then she slowly slid down and he groaned slightly in his sleep. She rose up and slid down again, moving several times until his eyes began to open. His mind was still fuzzy with sleep as his hands came up to grip her hips and he moaned “Mione.” She immediately began moving faster, tightening her walls on him as she rose up and then sunk back down on him. She felt his hips thrust up and the feeling of him touching her so deeply inside drove her to a frantic pace quickly.

He was fully awake now and the feeling of being awakened in such a fashion coupled with the sight of her wantonly riding him brought him to the edge quickly, but he held off, not wanting to go over without her. He released one hand from its grip on her hip and moved his thumb between her exposed lips until he found her clit. “I want to watch you my Mione.” At his words she climaxed and fell on to his chest, and at that glorious sight, he came inside of her.

After they calmed Harry chuckled. “Now that’s what I call a ‘good morning’.” He brought her mouth to his and kissed her as he rolled them over and pulled out of her. “We should go back to the cabin hunny, it’s getting light out.” She reluctantly agreed with him and they dressed themselves and headed back. They used the door Mione had ‘made’ in her room and walked to her bed. She wrapped her arms around him and looking up at him kissed his chin. “Goodnight again, my love.”

He put his best pout on his face and said “can’t I stay here with you? It’s so lonely out there.”

She stood on her tiptoes and stole a quick kiss. “You’ll just have to tough it out, my Lord.” She pushed him toward the living room and climbed into the bed. He reluctantly backed toward the door, watching her watch him. “I love you,” he called out before disappearing through the doorway. Hermione lay back on the pillows and sent him a final message before sleep claimed her again. // Right back at you, gorgeous. //
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Ben awoke and stretched out. He had been glad his father had taken the couch, the large bed was very comfortable and he had been able to stretch out his long frame and get a great nights sleep.

He lay in bed a while thinking about the previous day. He had gotten along great with his father, which didn’t really surprise him as he had gotten along with him when he had been ‘Dan’. He had been very interested when his father had told him about the other realm and the struggle for peace he had waged. Ben now knew he could forgive his dad for leaving Hermione because he now had a full understanding of the need of his presence during the conflict. And he was willing to try to build future memories with him now, something he didn’t think he’d be able to do not very long ago.

He smiled, rose out of bed and made his way out into the living room. He saw his father on the couch, and then turned and looked into his mother’s room to find her sitting up and stretching. “Morning sweetie,” she called to him.

“Morning Mum. Do you want- hey! Where’d that door come from?”

Hermione jerked around and looked at the door she had ‘made’ last night and blushed at the thought of why she did it. “Uh, well, I, uh, I was trying to work on my powers, and, uh, I was fooling around with the window...” She turned back to her son to find his father standing behind him holding his hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. Her cheeks grew redder as she said “and I made a door.” Then glaring at his father she added, “sweetie, why don’t you jump in the shower first and your father and I will make breakfast.”

“OK Mum,” he answered, heading for the bath.

After seeing his son disappear behind the bathroom door, Harry climbed in the bed and on top of Hermione. “Good morning again my Lady,” he said before taking her lips in a long sensual kiss. “You are so cute when you’re flustered, you know.”

“Yeah? Well I have news for you,” she said before she answered his kiss with a potent one of her own. “No one laughs at Hermione Jane Granger and gets away with it. Your punishment will be no more nookie until we get home. What do you think about that?”

“I think we’ll be driving straight through to Scotland, then,” he replied, before diving in for another taste of her.

‘Hermione Granger, he thought as he lost himself in the sweetness of her mouth; “I’m going to have to do something about that name…soon…”