Insomnia

Love You 'Til The Day I Die.

There's closets in my head where dirty things are kept

That never see the light of day

I want to drag them out, go for a walk

Just to see the look that's on your face

Sometimes I can't be straight I don't want to hurt you

So forgive me if I tell a lie

Sometimes I come on cold but don't believe it

I will love you till the day I die

I believe in doing things backwards

Take heed, start doing things in reverse

Here comes trouble, there's nothing wrong when I relax

I'm talking to myself you're coming with me

Teaching you how to distort the facts

Sometimes I can't be straight I don't want to hurt you

So forgive me if I tell a lie

Sometimes I come on cold but don't believe it

I will love you till the day I die

I believe in doing things backwards

Take heed, start doing things in reverse

Frost on the window pane, the sound of pouring rain

All makes me glad of you

Though I am far away I am always with you

Know the answer before you know the question

Pull yourself together, baby, push with all your might

I'm all alone, always alone

Though I am far away

I am always with you

August, four years ago. Two months into the War.

Hermione saw Ginny waiting for her on the steps of the Ministry building, and hurried over to her.

"Ginny!" The red-haired girl turned to face her, and a wide grin light her face up.

"Hermione! Where have you been?" They had arranged to meet fifteen minutes ago.

"Sorry, Gin. Secret Aurors' business." Ginny rolled her eyes, and Hermione smiled apologetically. "So, what's the big news?"

"I went to see Harry yesterday." Ginny blushed. "He wants me to set the date. Hermione hugged her friend. "Oh my God! When's it going to be?"

"Well, I want it to be really soon, as soon as he's better. He's not back on active service till mid September, so we've set the date for August the 21^st."

Hermione gasped. "Ginny, that's three weeks away. You can't organise a wedding in three weeks."

Ginny grinned slyly. "You can organise a Wizard wedding in three weeks, especially if you're marrying an Auror and your family had two head boys and one head girl at the school the Minister of Magic used to work at..."

Hermione laughed. "Hooray for nepotism, eh?"

"Mm." Ginny's expression changed to a shy smile. "Hermione, would you be my bridesmaid?"

People walking past turned to look at the two young women hugging and laughing on the steps of the large white building.

Hermione burst into Ron and Harry's room in the Government ward of St Mungo's, carrying flowers. The yellow dress she wore under her cream robes made her look like sunlight, Ron thought, as she leant down to kiss him before finding a vase to put the flowers in.

"And how are my two favourite boys today?" She sat on Ron's bed, beaming at both of them.

Harry grinned and stretched his arms. "I'm fantastic, thank you. I'm getting married in three weeks to the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth." He smiled at Hermione. "No offence, 'Mione. You're pretty, too."

Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron sat up to hug her. "Don't worry, Hermione. I think you're much hotter than my sister."

She batted him lightly across the head. "I should hope so." She became serious. 'As much as I'd like to discuss wedding plans until the cows come home, I've actually got some really good news."

The two men picked up the change in her voice. She was on Official Auror Business.

"What's up, Hermione?" Harry looked slightly worried.

"I was talking to Dumbledore today. He told me that come September, he's not shipping us all out to Germany again. He wants us all to continue working in England, and you two and Clementine will be joining us."

Harry grinned happily, and Hermione smiled. She knew that both of them hated being confined to bed like this, but it was standard Ministry procedure for anyone subjected to the Cruciatus and Imperius curses. Dumbledore believed in bed rest for two weeks and then a month of leave. Harry had confided in her two days ago that he did not want to be apart from Ginny again.

Hermione watched her boys discuss all the things they were going to do after their release tomorrow, and smiled sadly. Even though they were laughing and trading insults, she could see the shadows in their eyes. She hadn't seen Harry look like that since Cedric Diggory's death. He was himself, but subdued, washed-out. And Ron had a seriousness that she'd never seen before. During the first few days when they'd evacuated to England, the mediwizards had let her stay in the room to "guard" them, and she'd watched them sleep, a witness to the nightmares that racked them. Sometimes she had to lie in bed with them, holding them until they were calm. They were a bit better now, of course. This probably had a lot to do with the fact that Hermione, Ginny and Mrs Weasley were in there every day fussing over them. Men responded so well to that.

Looking at the time, Hermione sighed. Ron was coming home tomorrow, and unbeknownst to either him or Harry, a surprise party was planned at her tiny flat.

"I have to go. I've got work to do." She smiled at Ron, who pouted.

"Please stay, 'Mione. Harry's not nearly as good to look at as you are."

Pretending to be insulted, Hermione glared at him. "That's the only reason you keep me around, is it?" Ron hung his head in mock-shame, and she laughed good-naturedly and kissed him, whispering to him, "Don't worry. You'll be home tomorrow."

Ron growled and pulled her down onto the bed with him, making her shriek.

"Yes, and when I get home, you're not going to get any sleep for a week." Hermione giggled and kissed him, eliciting disgusted noises from Harry.

"Okay, stop that, you two. There's a time and a place, and this is neither."

Hermione stood up, kissing Ron one last time and whispering a quick "I love you" to him, before turning to drop a kiss on Harry's cheek and walking out of the room.