A/N: Well, I've had a bad case of writer's block. Thanks for all the reviews, and I hope that you like this chapter. As usual please review. Constructive criticism always welcome.
Harry sat behind his desk wondering what had possessed him to pop in on the Ministry surge. Not only was it not his duty, but she had spotted him. He would bet anything that she was now furious with him. He had seen her look of shock just before her departure.
And after she had left he had stayed watching as Aurors in grand numbers slaughtered members of Ambrosia and vice versa. It was a violent bloodbath that he was more than happy to stay a spectator in.
The late afternoon edition of the Daily Prophet relayed this information.
It didn't offer the vivid detail in which he had seen it.
The office was in chaos, and it seemed as if he was the only one who remained idle. Papers sat on his desk though they had already been completed a while ago. Harry was to be at the training facilities working with the trainees but he was avoiding them as best he could.
His vision blurred as his thoughts too muddled together, and then he saw her. He glimpsed a woman taking great advantage of the uproar that occurred in headquarters. She blended in very well except for the fact that he knew her too well.
Harry restrained himself from exiting his office and grabbing her by the collar into his office for a long conversation concerning her obviously addled brain. He would justify his rants as preparation for Rookie Evaluation which was to be conducted within the next three days.
He could see that it wasn't necessary as she neared loser. The door opened and closed the curtains falling in succession. Harry was not sure whether this was by magic or by sheer force of the door's slamming against the door frame.
Hermione stood before him her hands in her pockets. There were a million reasons why this was not proper, but only one surfaced in his brain.
"I don't think that we have an appointment. It is rather presumptuous of you to show up as if…"
"…I know you," she finished. Hermione sighed and dared to step closer her hands swinging as they remained firmly set in her pockets. This was the only way that she could dare speak to him. "But I do…know you, that is."
Hermione thought for a moment, before she looked him in the eye. The look on her face was somewhere between a smile and a smirk, but she simply couldn't look away from him.
"I hate it when you test me like this," sighed Hermione. She racked her brain trying to figure out when he had last made that statement. "It was the night you proposed; happy? You'd scheduled a dinner date and I was late. You almost didn't propose because you thought it was Ambrosia related. It wasn't."
"Are we actually bartering of secrets between each other?" asked Harry.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him before she found herself a seat on his desk.
"I'd prefer to think of it as us having a civilized conversation. This is one of many that neither of us want to bring up, and I figure it's time we open Pandora's Box," said Hermione. She swallowed carefully. "I can't recall exactly when I told you that my mother had died, but I know I was hiding it from you for quite a while. She had a sixth sense, Harry; she just knew when things were going to happen."
Hermione didn't come out and say it, directly, but he knew that she was speaking of her mother. He had met her once, and she seemed to be one of the nicest people. He couldn't understand how people could get caught up in something and change.
"And all of a sudden every conversation we had she urged me to leave. And I think I always knew that the one thing she wanted for me to do was to get out. But I thought that I knew better than she did. In reality however I should have listened."
"Some things can't be fixed."
Hermione glanced around the room before she faced Harry once again.
"This is strictly under the table Auror Potter?"
"It always is with you, Hermione."
"In theory I could give you my amulet and let the Aurors take care of them all, or perhaps I could just summon them all to the meeting place seal the house and let them burn. I could really care less how the situation is taken care of, but I can't be the one to do it."
Harry didn't bother to ask why.
"What has inspired the change?"
"Let's just say that a friend helped me realized that revenge doesn't always help you get what you want. Instead it only turns you bitter, and into something that you don't wish to be. I think it's time for me to get back to being myself, and leave Ambrosia in the past."
"Revenge?" asked Harry. "That's what this is about. Why attack the Ministry of all people?"
"In theory it would be more theatrical if I just targeted everyone, and caused mass fear. But in reality I realize that, if I did so I would be the next Voldemort," said Hermione. "But beyond that it's what they did to my ancestor, Katherina Ambrosia. If history serves me correctly she was one of the first muggleborn witches and they shunned her. And she too was a Seer. So when she decided to warn them of the impending Dark Lord of the century they…"
Harry was shocked. How could he have not realized it sooner?
"Katherina Ambrosia?" he asked. "Isn't that…"
"Yes, she's one and the same. We will always share the same blood and unfortunately we'll have the same markings across our backs. They branded her as punishment so they could trace the `evil' down the family line. But the Ministry doesn't want anyone to know."
"They're probably ashamed."
"It's been centuries, Harry, and I predict that even your mother can testify to it. And I'm sure that you've experienced it first hand with Umbridge. Perhaps if the entire Wizarding World knew some would be outraged, and perhaps some would understand."
"You're still afraid about that aren't you?" asked Harry. "You still think that you have something to prove to everyone else just because your parents didn't have any magical powers. Hermione there are so many things that you can do in the Wizarding World that a pureblood couldn't. "
"Not anymore," she muttered. Hermione had previously glanced down at the floor, but turned her head towards the door in curiosity. And once she was certain she turned her head back. "It's Ginny."
Harry arched an eyebrow indeed wondering how she had accomplished this feet, he also pondered her accuracy. But soon all questions were answered when the door burst open and a fiery haired woman slipped into the room. A smile was on her face, but it soon slid away once Hermione entered the room.
"I didn't know that you had company," said Ginny.
Hermione turned around to face Ginny still perched on the desk. The second she knew it was Ginny she was filled with a sense of loathing. Perhaps Ginny had done nothing in recent times to cause this level of anger, but all the same she still didn't like the look in her eye.
"Yes," said Hermione. "And you are rudely interrupting a conversation. It would be better if you returned later to continue whatever situation has arisen; this is important."
"I do believe that what I have to say is as important, if not more than whatever scheme you're attempting to run by Harry. In fact, on behalf of everyone that's suffered for your recklessness: It would be best if you just went away. Now if you excuse me…"
Harry did not know if he should have been expecting this, but now that he was seeing it in full motion he knew that it needed to stop immediately. As far as he'd been concerned they were best friends, but they were obviously not.
To his relief Hermione walked directly past her and instead turned on the spot to face Harry. Hermione sent him a weak smile, indicating that they would pick up on the conversation later. Harry was actually looking forward to that moment. Hermione left as quickly as she had appeared and he was left only with Ginny.
A woman with who he was now mad at.
"I've been talking to Ron lately," said Ginny. "And I know that he's never been more worried about you than he is at the moment. Harry, I beg you to understand that we all care deeply about your well being, but perhaps I'm the only one willing to tell you how I feel about the matter."
"And what are your feelings?"
"She's a walking contradiction, Harry. I suppose that with her marks at Hogwarts and her attitudes there that she should be the most stable person, and the most successful of your years graduates. But let's face it she is the flightiest person that you could ever meet. And you can't spend your whole life waiting for that person to return when she's just going to…did you notice what she was wearing?"
Harry groaned…another fictitious story was about to weave its way into the conversation.
"I can't even begin to wonder why you married her, much less why you haven't divorced her. Surely law would permit you to end the sham of a marriage, but no you insist upon barreling yourself deeper. Hermione Granger has been working in this since she was attractive enough to…"
"I don't care," he shouted, ending her statement. Ginny was stunned to say the least, Harry had never before shouted at her. "I'm sick of everyone telling me all of Hermione's flaws. And half of them aren't even correct, because you've gotten them from the latest gossip mill."
"Harry.."
"Perhaps I don't approve with what Hermione's doing, but she's trying to make it all better. And even she didn't I think I'd still love her, because that's who she is. And I knew that when I married her. I don't give a damn what everyone else thinks about my marriage. My mum, Mrs. Weasley, and Luna understand the situation. And if you can't take my wife or stand the state of my marriage…well that's just your problem."
"Think about what your father would want …."
"Get out…" his hand pointed to the door.
**
Harry stood in the doorway of her bedroom at Godric's Hollow. It had taken him much of the afternoon to figure out where to begin his search for her, and once it hit him he had taken the rest of the day off. Now Harry was here watching her as she appeared to be searching for something.
"What are you looking for?"
"My wand," she groaned. She ducked her head disappearing beneath the bed skirts. She came up and sighed placing her hands across her knees. "I've looked everywhere at least three times. I don't know how I could be so careless as to misplace my wand."
"We all do it at least once. When do you recall last using it?"
Hermione clapped her hand to her forehead, and groaned.
"The Ministry surge. That's probably the last time that I've used it. I have no idea where it could be now. It's not safe to head over there, and most likely it's under Ministry guard now. What am I going to do now? I haven't cast any bad spells lately, but my wandless magic is a bit off."
"Just calm down a bit," said Harry. He led her to bed and instructed her to sit down. And informed her that he would be back within a few minutes with something to calm her down. A few minutes turned into practically forever, and when she finally thought that she would lose it he returned.
Harry set down a cup of tea on the dresser, and walked over to her. Harry had partially hidden the two objects in his hand, but once she caught a glimpse of the vial and knife in his hands, she knew that she needed to ask questions.
"What are you doing?" she asked her nerves showing quite a bit.
"We're going to get you a new wand. It's going to have to be custom made because you can't physically show up in Ollivander's. And that's why I'm going to have to get a blood sample. It'll turn out better than if I picked out the wand for you."
Hermione knew what he was saying made sense.
"Why don't we just use your blood?"
Harry shook his head at how ridiculous her statement sounded. It was a simple prick and then it will all be over. He distracted her soon enough, and retrieved what he needed to get her new wand. He handed her the banded and the cup of tea.
And with that he was gone. Hermione didn't know how she felt about his departure, but instead of dwelling on it she looked into the mahogany cloud that was her tea. She raised it to her lips and began to calm her ever frantic nerves.
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