Love is a Battlefield

Dedication:For parker, Ariana and Yumi, because they take my breath away with their ficlets, for Ivy Unpoisoned, who makes my day with her reviews, for Cadey, my very own secret-keeper, and for Steve AKA Sir Loyne, the cutest knight of them all. .
 

* * * * *

 
Whenever, wherever
We're meant to be together
I'll be there and you'll be near
And that's the deal, my dear
You're over, you're under
You've got me head over heels
There's nothing left to fear
If you really feel the way I feel
 
Shakira, “Whenever, wherever”
 

* * * * *

 
11pm, Wednesday, November 5, 2008
 
“Either you know the answer or you don’t, Malfoy. How long do you want?” Hermione leaned forward in her seat, keeping her gaze locked with Draco’s. He sat on her immediate right in a lounge perpendicular to hers. Although the males and females usually split up on Wednesdays, this time they’d decided to all spend the evening together playing board games and generally enjoying each other’s company.
 
They were at Ron and Kellie’s place as travel was hard for Kellie in her late stage of pregnancy. They’d set the lounge room up so that the three two seater lounges were in a square around the rectangular table upon which the game sat; the fourth side was left open with a roaring fire keeping them warm. A few empty bottles of wine sat scattered amongst the debris on the floor; nibblies were in various bowls on the table, automatically filling themselves up when empty.
 
Draco stared at Hermione as she held the card in front of her, awaiting his answer with a mock-impatient sigh. “Yes, I know the answer, Granger. You’re not the only one who’s read Hogwarts, a History, you know.”
 
The other four occupants of the room sniggered. Draco and Hermione often butted heads when playing trivia games; of the six, they were the two who generally knew most of the answers. Draco had turned out to be a veritable fountain of obscure information, much to everyone’s surprise. More than a few times, it had become a battle of wits, neither of them willing to give up. Their words were teasing, though. They’d been friends for far too long for anyone to think they were serious.
 
Finally, without his face moving a muscle, Draco answered with, “1789.”
 
All eyes turned to Hermione, who made a show of looking at the answer on her card, then looking back up at Draco. “You are absolutely … wrong. The correct answer is 1790.”
 
“Show me,” Draco demanded. Hermione handed the card over silently while Draco looked at the answer. “Shit,” he said, causing everyone to laugh.
 
“I thought you knew the answer, baby?” Ginny asked between chuckles, patting his arm sympathetically.
 
“I did.” He nodded his head towards Hermione. “She cheated.”
 
“I did not!” Hermione said indignantly. “You just don’t like being wrong, Malfoy.”
 
A chorus of whistles went up as Draco reaffixed his gaze on her. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you, Granger. Merlin help anyone who tells you you’re wrong about anything!”
 
Hermione slapped his arm lightly and he yelped in mock pain. “I’m not always right, you know. I can admit that,” she sniffed. This statement caused an uproar of laughter. Ron held his sides, openly laughing at his best friend, who narrowed her eyes at him.
 
Harry, who sat on her left, rubbed her back soothingly as he tried desperately to curb his own laughter. “Hermione, come on. Be fair, honey. You hate being wrong, and you hate it even more when someone tells you you’re wrong.”
 
“What is this, pick on Hermione Granger day? I don’t remember hearing any of you complaining when my knowledge saved your arses on more than one occasion.” Hermione folded her arms across her chest and stared at the fire. She wasn’t really annoyed, but the insecurities of the young girl desperate to find acceptance in the world in which she had been thrust into without warning occasionally cropped up. Her intelligence had been the one thing that had set her apart from the others in the same position, and she always felt a bit defensive when criticised about it.
 
“Aww, don’t be like that, love. You know Draco was kidding. Your brain is one of the sexiest things about you.” Harry smiled at her and leaned forward to kiss the sensitive spot just below her ear. Hermione tried to keep the frown on her face but melted at his touch. He whispered something in her ear and she smiled, turning to kiss him softly on the lips.
 
“God, how long is this going to go on for then?” Draco said with an exaggerated sigh. “You only live next door. Can’t you play newlyweds back home? It’s not fair to subject us to it all evening, you know.”
 
“Shut it, Malfoy,” Harry replied. “I can kiss my girlfriend if I want to. Like you never touch Ginny in front of us.”
 
“Children, children. As fun as it is to watch the squabbling in the sandpit, do you think we could get back on track with the game? I just want to see Hermione kick Malfoy’s arse so I can throw you all out.” Ron smirked at Draco.
 
Ginny yawned and looked at her watch. “I didn’t realise how late it was. Maybe we should get going. I’ve got a breakfast meeting tomorrow so I’ve got to be up early.”
 
“Can we at least finish the game first?” Draco asked.
 
“Don’t worry, Draco,” Hermione answered with a grin. “I can kick your arse another night.”
 
This set off another round of laughs. “Actually, I don’t mean to be rude, guys, but I really need to go to bed,” Kellie broke in, rubbing her stomach. “I was up half the night with Junior playing Quidditch using my stomach as a quaffle. You’re welcome to stay and finish the game, though. Ron and I were out of the running awhile back so it won’t make much difference if I disappear.”
 
“No, that’s fine with me,” Hermione said. “It is getting late; we can pick it up another night. Let’s call it a truce, eh?” She stuck out her hand towards Draco and he shook it. Ginny waved her wand over the board and all the pieces floated up into the air, then placed themselves in the correct spots in the box. Once the game was neatly packed away, she put the lid on and summoned it back onto the shelf.
 
Kellie kissed everyone good night before making her way upstairs with a wave. Ron hung around to bid everyone farewell, walking the other four into the hallway.
 
“Is she getting any sleep at all, Ron?” Ginny asked her brother.
 
He sighed and ran a hand through his fiery hair. “Not really. These last few weeks have been hell. She’s up every few hours and she can’t get comfortable, no matter how hard she tries.”
 
Ginny smiled sympathetically and reached out to take his hand and squeeze it gently. “Won’t be long now. Then you’ll have a screaming baby getting you up every few hours.”
 
Ron glared at his sister. “You’re not helping.”
 
Ginny put her cloak on and reached up to kiss his cheek. “It will all be worth it. You don’t fool me for a second, Ronald.”
 
“Go home, Virginia. I hope you sleep well.” His tone was sarcastic but the lines around his eyes and mouth gave him away.
 
“Love you,” Ginny told him before turning to Harry and Hermione to kiss them goodbye.
 
“I love you too, squirt,” Ron replied, using his childhood nickname for her. He watched as Hermione kissed Draco, then the trio stood back as Draco and Ginny Disapparated.
 
Harry turned to Ron. “Thanks for everything, I’ll owl you tomorrow.”
 
“Okay.” Ron clapped him on the back and kissed Hermione before opening the front door. He observed his best friends as they headed home, their fingers firmly entwined together. He’d been surreptitiously watching them all night and had realised as time went on that they really were in love. Harry had confided in him the previous Saturday but Ron hadn’t really believed it until he’d seen it with his own two eyes.
 
Now the he had seen it, he was overjoyed for them. He loved both of them dearly and knew they’d never really found the love they’d sought for many years. He also appreciated the irony of the fact that they’d been under each other’s noses for all this time. Watching them tonight, all the pieces had fallen into place, and he hoped with all of his heart that this was it for them; he had the feeling that if it ever did go wrong, neither of them would ever be the same.
 

* * * * *

 
11.45pm
 
Hermione collapsed on top of Harry with a moan, her entire body covered with goose bumps. Lifting her head up, she held his face in her hands and kissed him fiercely. He matched her kiss for kiss, his arms wrapped around her. Hermione only pulled away when she ran out of breath. Panting heavily, she slid off him and onto her side, settling her head on his shoulder and throwing an arm over his chest. Harry kept one hand on her back, the other draped loosely on her hip.
 
They didn’t speak for a few minutes, enjoying the closeness they always felt after making love. Hermione loved this as much as the act itself, being wrapped up in Harry’s arms without a care in the world.
 
“Do you think it will always be this good?” Harry asked with a satisfied sigh.
 
Hermione laughed. “I hope so. Somehow, I don’t get the impression that it’s possible for us to have bad sex.”
 
Harry turned his head to grin at her. “I’ll guess we’ll have to keep practising to find out whether that’s true or not.”
 
“You’re on. I like a good challenge.” She moved her head to kiss him again, then settled back onto the pillow next to him. It reminded her of their first night together, and a wave of warmth washed over her at the memory. It seemed like years ago, even though she knew it was only a matter of days. She tightened her grip on him and smiled as he kissed her forehead, pushing the hair stuck to it back off her face.
 
There was silence for a few minutes, their breathing the only sound in the room. Just as she thought Harry had drifted off to sleep, he spoke. “Are you nervous about Friday night?”
 
Hermione bit her lip at the thought; they were having dinner at her parents’ house to break the news to them. She wasn’t sure why the thought of telling her parents she was in love with Harry terrified her so much, but it did. Still, she was somewhat heartened by Sirius’ reaction; he’d been overjoyed when he’d come over for dinner the previous evening and they’d clued him in. Since Sirius was the closest thing Harry had to a father, his blessing was just as important to her as her parents’ was.
 
“No,” she answered. “Not nervous, exactly. I just want them to be happy for us. I really don’t think it will be a big deal; you know Mum already loves you like a son.” Hermione shifted slightly. “In fact, I’ll probably get a big ‘I told you so’ from her anyway.”
 
She felt Harry’s chest rise as he breathed in. “What do you mean by that?”
 
“Well,” Hermione began tentatively. “She asked me years ago why it was that we’d never dated. I explained to her that we were best friends and I just didn’t have those type of feelings for you, but I don’t think she ever quite believed me.” She turned her face up to look at him. “She adores you, you know. Always has.”
 
“I know. I like your mother very much, too. She’s a lovely lady.”
 
“Anyhow, no point worrying about it. They’ll be fine about it and if they’re not then tough luck. It won’t change anything.”
 
Harry opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it, instead choosing to kiss Hermione tenderly. She then turned over and he cuddled into her, wrapping himself around her. It didn’t take long for their breathing to quieten as they drifted off into slumber.
 

* * * * *

 
Friday, November 7, 2008
 
Hermione carried the last of the dishes out to the kitchen where she found Harry stacking the plates neatly on the side. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face; her parents’ reaction to the news had been better than she could have imagined, making her feel a bit silly for having given it a second thought. Her mother had leapt out of her chair to hug them both, squeezing Harry so tightly he’d blushed redder than Ron’s hair. After a congratulatory handshake for Harry and hug for Hermione, Vincent Granger had decided it was time to eat, and they’d settled down to one of his wife’s best known dishes – roast lamb and vegetables with all the trimmings. The feast had reminded Hermione of those they used to enjoy at Hogwarts, and she could tell Harry was thinking the same thing as they passed the dishes around.
 
Once the meal was over and they’d enjoyed pudding for sweets, Harry and Hermione had insisted on doing the dishes. They could simply have waved a wand over the sink and let them clean themselves, but Hermione wanted a few minutes alone with Harry.
 
She picked up the cloth as she began to wash, her relief evident.
 
“You see? I told you there was nothing to worry about.” Harry said as he grabbed the tea towel.
 
“Yes, you did,” Hermione said with a wry smile. “I just …”
 
“I know,” Harry answered.
 
Hermione looked up at him as he started to dry the glasses. “I love you.”
 
Harry stopped drying the glass in his hand and leaned over, pressing his lips firmly against hers in a tender kiss. “I love you too.” They smiled at each other for a few moments and then went back to the task at hand.
 
About halfway through the dishes, Hermione felt Harry move to stand directly behind her. His arms encircled her and his hands disappeared into the sink to rest on top of hers. “I think you need a bit of help with the washing up, Miss Granger,” he said quietly, placing a small kiss on her neck. Hermione felt a small shiver race up her spine as he continued to kiss her neck, guiding their hands over the plate in the sink. She ran the cloth over it, not paying the slightest bit of attention as to whether she was actually washing it or not; she barely felt Harry lift it out of the sink and onto the rack. All she knew, all she felt was Harry. His scent, his touch, the feel of his skin on hers made all her senses explode and Hermione rapidly felt her desire mounting.
 
She tried desperately to curb it, knowing that it was neither the time nor the place for them to act upon it. “Harry,” she said breathlessly, her voice pleading with him to both stop and continue.
 
Finally, he put them both out of their misery, and his lips made their way up her neck and across her face until they reached hers. Hermione turned into the kiss, lifting a soapy hand to place it on his face. They were so caught up in each other that they didn’t notice the figure standing behind them, watching them with a smile. They never heard Judy Granger sigh happily and disappear from the doorway, leaving them alone once more.
 

* * * * *

 
“I should be mad at you,” Hermione said between kisses as they stumbled their way into their house from the garage. “We were supposed to be on our best behaviour at my parents’ house.”
 
Harry continued to guide her backwards, his hands discarding her clothing piece by piece. “I was on my best behaviour. I didn’t ravish you in front of your parents, did I?” He gave her a kiss so passionate that she was effectively left speechless. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” he whispered seductively.
 
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but got lost in the feel of Harry’s lips on her neck, his hands gliding across her bare skin. She reached up to take his glasses off, and still holding them in one hand, lifted her arms up to wrap them around his neck in silent surrender as he backed her up against the wall. No more words were necessary.
 

* * * * *

 
Ron sighed as he stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Kellie was once again shifting on the bed, trying to get comfortable without success. She hit the mattress in frustration.
 
“Can’t sleep, love?” he asked quietly. He heard her gasp in surprise.
 
“I’m sorry, am I keeping you awake Ron?”
 
“It’s okay,” he answered, flipping over onto his side to face her. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at his wife, his eyes already adjusted to the dark. He was dismayed to see a tear slide down her cheek. “Hey, Kel,” he said, reaching out to wipe the tear away. “What can I do to help?”
 
“Nothing. There’s nothing you can do.” They lay silently together for a few moments, the silence punctuated periodically by the sounds of breathing. Finally, Kellie turned her head towards Ron. “Would I be a terrible person if I said I don’t want to be pregnant anymore?”
 
“Oh, sweetheart,” Ron said soothingly. “Of course not. I don’t know how you’ve managed this long. I’d be going nuts if it was me.” He leaned over to kiss her and she reached up to place her hand on the back of his neck, gently tickling the hair there. “It’s not much longer,” he murmured. “A few more weeks, then our baby will be here.” Ron pondered what he’d just said. “A baby,” he repeated in an incredulous tone. “Our baby is in there,” he said, rubbing her stomach gently. “A part of you and me. It’s an incredible thought, you know. That we’ve created a human being.” This wasn’t the first time Ron had had thoughts such as these, but every now and then, they overwhelmed him.
 
Kellie covered his hand with hers and smiled. “I know. She’s going to be so cute with the Weasley hair.”
 
Ron laughed. “She? What if it’s a he?”
 
“I don’t know. I just have a feeling it’s a girl. Mother’s intuition.”
 
“Well, if she’s half as beautiful as her mother then I’ll be the luckiest wizard alive.” Ron stroked Kellie’s cheek softly and she promptly burst into tears. “Kel, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
 
Kellie swiped at his arm. “I’m not crying because I’m upset, you dolt. I’m crying because I’m happy. I’m crying because I’m having your baby, and that makes me happier than anyone on earth, because I just love you so much, Ronald Weasley.”
 
Ron felt a lump in his throat, and he needed a moment to be able to form coherent words. “I love you too, Mrs. Weasley. Now let’s see if we can’t get you some sleep.” As carefully as he could, he pulled her into his arms and cradled her. Kellie shut her eyes and allowed herself to relax, eventually nodding off into dreamless sleep.
 

* * * * *

 
2.30pm Saturday, November 8, 2008
 
“Right, are you sure you have everything?”
 
“Yes, Mother. Everything is packed.” Draco said with a dramatic sigh.
 
“Don’t be a smart arse, Draco. I don’t want us to forget anything and have to come back for it.” Ginny scowled at him as she raced around their bedroom, rifling through her drawers and throwing various items of clothing on the floor.
 
Draco watched her with an amused grin, flopping back onto their bed and spreading his arms out. “What are you looking for, Gin?”
 
She stopped for a moment but didn’t look at him. “Never you mind.”
 
“If you told me what it was, I might know where it is,” he pointed out.
 
“I doubt it.” A few more items sailed through the air, landing in the mounting heap on the floor. “Aha!” Ginny grinned triumphantly and stuffed something under her top, then shimmied over to her open bag where she quickly shoved her hidden bundle in and zipped it closed.
 
“Right, are we finally ready to go or do you need another few days to pack?” Draco smirked, knowing that his comment would raise his soon-to-be-wife’s hackles.

“For God’s sake, Draco. Must you be so annoying? It’s not my fault an emergency came up with work - I know we were supposed to be there last night. I don’t want to be hanging around here and risk getting another owl I have to deal with. I just want to get there.” Her face softened as Draco sat up on the edge of the bed and held his arms out. She moved into them as he rested his head against her chest. Wrapping her arms around him, she placed her cheek on the top of his head and smoothed his hair. “This is it. We’re really getting married.” Her voice was full of wonder as the reality of what they were about to embark on sunk in.
 
“Not a moment too soon,” Draco said, kissing the hollow of her neck. “Now let’s go and honeymoon.” He smiled up at her and she kissed the tip of his nose. Moving out of his embrace, she waved her wand over the suitcases that stood at the end of the bed and they floated obediently up into the air. They walked out of the bedroom and into the lounge room, making their way to the fireplace. They were going to travel via Floo Powder to the Portkey transfer point, where they would use a Portkey to get to the Aruban port. From there, it was a short enough distance for them to Apparate to the resort.
 
Ginny picked up some floo powder and prepared to throw it into the fire. “Aren’t you forgetting something, beautiful?”
 
She turned around to see Draco standing behind her, his arms folded across his chest and a smug grin on his face. “What?” she asked in an irritated tone. “I haven’t forgotten anything!”
 
“Are you planning to marry me naked? Not that it would bother me in the slightest, but I’m not sure Leanne would like it.”
 
Ginny looked at him as if he had two heads. “No, of course I’m not marrying you naked, I’m wearing my … ” Her voice trailed off as she realised exactly what it was she’d forgotten. “Dress!” She stormed across the room, the sound of Draco’s laughter ringing in her ears. As she passed the lounge, she waved her wand and muttered a few words, and the cushions off it went sailing across the room to hit Draco in the back of the head. It was her turn to smile as he yelped in surprise.
 
“You’ll pay for that, woman!” he called out. Ginny grinned as she grabbed her dress from the back of the wardrobe and skipped back to the lounge room. “Right, now we’re ready,” she exclaimed in her take-charge voice. “Let’s go.” Ducking his kiss with a giggle, she picked up some Floo Powder, threw it into the fire, stated her destination and disappeared.
 

* * * * *

 
10am, Aruba, The Caribbean
 
“Wow,” Ginny muttered as she gazed around the lobby of the resort in awe. This had to be the most incredible hotel she’d ever seen her in life. No expense had been spared; crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, all trimmings were made of pure gold, and the waterfall in the centre of the lobby was a miniature of a tropical paradise. She looked around as Draco checked them in and was surprised to find there was not another soul around. They were probably outside, enjoying the beautiful weather and taking advantage of the hotel’s numerous pools. Although it was almost winter back home, Aruba lay in the Southern Hemisphere, so it was about to enter its summer. The air was already hot and sultry and Ginny couldn’t wait to get her bikini on and go and lounge around the pool, perhaps indulge in a swim later.
 
Draco sidled up to her, lacing his fingers through hers. “All checked in. They said our bags should be there by the time we are.”
 
They made their way to the lift and in no time arrived at their destination. Ginny wasn’t surprised to see they had the penthouse. As the lift doors opened, she found her jaw dropping a second time. The suite was reminiscent of their flat back home in terms of size; from the small foyer they stepped into, she could see a large terrace with French style shutters. All the doors and windows were open, allowing the sun to shine through and give reign to the warm tropical breezes that were billowing the shimmering curtains.
 
They did a quick tour of the suite. It had three bedrooms and two bathrooms and a formal lounge room with a magnificent fireplace, surrounded in gold. The master bedroom had the biggest bed Ginny had ever seen in her life, with their luggage sitting neatly at the end of it. A mirrored wardrobe ran the length of one wall. Ginny levitated the luggage onto the bed and opened all the doors to the wardrobe, then opened the suitcases and uttered a spell that sent the clothes flying across the room and into position. Shirts, skirts, pants and dresses found themselves on coat hangers, shoes placed neatly on the floor, and other items tucked into various drawers. Finally, the suitcases themselves glided across the room and into one corner, out of the way.
 
Nodding to herself, Ginny promptly jumped up onto the bed and bounced a few times. Draco watched her, his eyes twinkling. “Having fun?”
 
“Yep. Just testing the bed.”
 
“I could think of other ways to test the bed,” he said with a wink.
 
“I’m sure you could. Which reminds me, you should know that there’s no more sex until we’re married.”
 
Draco’s mouth opened and closed a few times in shock. “What?”
 
“You heard me. It will make our wedding night so much better, don’t you think?”
 
He blinked, pleading desperately with his eyes for her to say she was joking. “But we’re not getting married for another eleven days,” he said in a strangled tone.
 
Ginny stopped bouncing and grinned down at him. “Think of all the sexual tension that will build. Our wedding night will be … ” She paused, searching for the right word. “Magical.” As she hopped off the bed, she slanted a glance at her fiancé, who was still standing in the middle of the room with an aghast look on his face. It was all she could do not to laugh and spoil everything.
 
“Ginny,” he said pleadingly. “We’ve never gone eleven whole days without having sex. How can you expect me to lie in the same bed with you night after night and not touch you?”
 
Ginny could tell he was trying to keep the desperation out of his voice; laughter bubbled to the surface. She knew if she looked at him she wouldn’t be able to stop herself, so she walked across to the wardrobe and pulled out a silver string bikini. “I don’t,” She finally controlled her impulse to laugh enough to answer. “Which is why you’ll be sleeping in one of the other bedrooms.”
 
This statement was met with stunned silence. Ginny pulled her dress up over her head and stripped off her underwear, her back still to Draco. However, she could see his reflection in the mirror, and the look on his face was something she would treasure for a very, very long time. She quickly put her bikini on, doing up the strings on either hip and around her back and neck before turning to face him.
 
“Oh, for God’s sake, Draco. I’m kidding. Do you have any idea what you look like at the moment? The stunned mullet look is not a good one for you, baby. I wish I had my camera out.”
 
“You were kidding?”
 
The relief in his face was so great Ginny couldn’t help but laugh. She moved to stand in front of him and stood up on her tiptoes, placing her arms around his neck. “Of course I was kidding. You know how badly I lust for you. I don’t think I’d make it through eleven days, let alone you.” She kissed him soundly as he relaxed, sliding his arms around her waist and holding her to him tightly.
 
“Don’t ever do that to me again, Virginia,” he said warningly against her lips. “I won’t be responsible for my actions if you do.”
 
Ginny laughed lightly. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She moved out of his arms and wandered over to the balcony attached to the master bedroom. “Look! There’s a pool just below us. I wonder why it’s empty on a beautiful day like today?”
 
“Because it’s our pool, that’s why.”
 
Ginny glanced over her shoulder at him. “Ours?”
 
“Yep. It’s a private pool attached to the penthouse. Nobody can access it except us. It’s also charmed so that no one can see over or through the fence which means we have complete privacy.”
 
Ginny didn’t miss the implication in his tone. “Well, what are you waiting for then? Get your swimmers on and let’s go!”
 

* * * * *

 
After making sure to grab some towels and their sunglasses they took the lift, which they assumed was also theirs alone, and made their way onto the pool deck. Draco had tucked his wand in his towel and as they dropped their belongings on the tables on either side of the chairs, he cast an anti-sunburn spell over himself and Ginny so they wouldn’t burn.
 
Ginny was right. It was a beautiful day; the breeze cool enough to keep the heat at bay and the sun was a vast improvement on the weather back home. Draco grinned to himself as he stretched out next to Ginny on a deck chair, pleased with his choice of location.
 
He lay on his side and watched as Ginny stretched her lithe body out, the small bikini she was currently clothed in barely covering her. He particularly liked the strings which held it in place; he was going to have a lot of fun undoing them later on.
 
He flopped onto his back and stretched out himself, the sun warming his body and making him sleepy. Just before he dozed off, he felt Ginny reach across to grab his hand. He weaved his fingers through hers and together they lay underneath the clear blue sky, snoozing the morning away.
 

* * * * *

 
Ginny sat up in shock as the cold hit her midsection. She let out a small scream as it took her a few seconds to realise she’d been splashed by Draco, who was currently treading water in the middle of the pool.
 
“You prat,” she declared with a splutter.
 
“But you love me anyway,” Draco replied, diving under the water and beginning laps. Ginny got up off her chair and placed her sunglasses on the table next to it and made her way over to the edge of the pool. She sat down and dangled her feet in the water, allowing her body to adjust to the cold while she watched Draco as he sliced through the water effortlessly. He looked so graceful as the water parted around him like Moses parting the waters of the Red Sea.
 
He did ten laps then waded over to where Ginny sat. “Are you coming in, beautiful?” he asked, running a hand through his wet hair, slicking it back. “The water’s fine.”
 
Ginny wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know, I’m quite comfortable here. How about I just sit here and watch you swim?”
 
“How about you come in the water with me instead?” Draco pulled her off the edge and into the pool, wrapping his arms around her waist. She shuddered as the water surrounded her, enveloping her in its cold embrace. Ginny slid her arms around Draco’s neck so she was only half submerged, but as she was pressed against his bare chest, the water still seeped through her bikini top.
 
“What the hell,” she said, pushing away from Draco and putting her head under the water. She re-emerged and shook her head slightly, her red hair flying back. “That’s better,” she declared, moving once again into Draco’s embrace. “Now I’m all wet, I might as well do a few laps myself.”
 
Draco kissed her cheek. “Now you’re all wet, it won’t matter if I remove this, will it?” He fingered the edge of her bikini and Ginny giggled.
 
“Don’t you ever think about anything else but sex, Draco Malfoy?” she asked in mock protest, pressing her lips against his in a series of soft, gentle kisses.
 
“Sure I do. Sometimes I think about how much I love you, but then that only leads my thoughts back to sex.” He kissed the side of her neck. “The sight of you in that is enough to give any man wicked thoughts, you know.” Ginny made no attempt to stop him as his hand moved under the water to untie the strings that held the bottom of her top in place loose. Once it was undone, he reached around her neck and undid the top strings, pulling the flimsy material that separated them away and flinging it over his head where it floated on the surface of the pool. “That’s much better,” he murmured as Ginny tightened her grip around his neck.
 
Their kisses instantly went from soft and gentle to hot and fiery, their burning desire rising rapidly. Ginny didn’t blink when Draco let go of her waist to move his hands down to her hips where he tugged at the strings on either side and quickly removed the rest of her bikini. She gasped out loud as his hand continued further down to caress her gently.
 
Suddenly, he wasn’t close enough. In unspoken agreement, Ginny removed the last barrier that separated their skin as Draco took her mouth again.
 

* * * * *

 
Sunday, 9 November 2008, England UK
 
Hermione sighed as her quill hovered over the parchment in front of her. She really was trying to get some work down, but Harry wasn’t exactly helping. He was sitting behind her on the couch, his arms wrapped around her waist and his mouth moving over her neck and shoulder.
 
“Harry, please, love. I’m really trying to get this done. If I can just work out where we went wrong with the potion, then we can try it again and perhaps take a step forward instead of ten steps backward.” She rested her hand on his thigh and patted it gently before turning to glance out the window. The night sky shimmered in the moonlight, the stars twinkling. Hermione loved looking at the night sky; it reminded her of all the times they’d been in the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts, watching meteors shoot overhead and falling stars burn through the night.
 
“Okay, fine. Give me a kiss and I’ll go upstairs and leave you alone for a bit.” Harry said with a mock sigh.
 
Hermione turned back towards him with a smile and leaned forward, gently pressing her lips against his. She pulled back and patted his leg again.
 
Harry quirked an eyebrow at her. “You call that a kiss?”
 
Hermione tried hard not to laugh. “Yes. Now go away.”
 
“Am I interrupting?” The voice startled them both, and they stared at the fire. They got up and wandered over to stand in front of the head that now floated in the flames.
 
“Hi Penny, not at all,” Harry said in greeting as Hermione waved at their friend.
 
“Hi guys. I’m really sorry to bother you, but I have something I think you should both know.”
 
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. Harry crossed his arms over his chest while Hermione chewed her lip.
 
“What’s that then, Penny?” Hermione asked.
 
Penny seemed to pause. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, so I’ll just say it. I was just talking to a friend of mine who works at the Prophet and she told me that tomorrow’s front page has a news-breaking headline.” Penny paused. “It’s about you two.”
 
Hermione gasped softly while Harry’s hands curled into fists. He kept them tucked safely underneath his arms.
 
“What about us?” he said evenly.
 
“It seems that somehow the news that you two are now a couple has been leaked. I don’t know how they got the information, Heather wouldn’t say. All I know is that Rita Skeeter has the byline, and Witch Weekly has also picked up on it. They’re going to run an exposé in their Monday edition, and I think it focuses on you, Hermione.” Penny looked at her sympathetically. “I’m really sorry, guys, but I thought you’d want to know.”
 
Hermione didn’t say anything as the reality of what was about to happen sunk in.
 
Luckily, Harry had the presence of mind to speak up. “You’re absolutely right, we do want to know. Thanks a lot for the heads up, Penny. We appreciate it.”
 
“No problem. Oh, and by the way, since I haven’t spoken to you – congratulations. I’m really pleased for you.”
 
Harry murmured thanks and Hermione managed a wavering smile as Penny said good bye and disappeared with a *pop*. The flames flickered, then went back to normal.
 
There was total silence for a few long moments as they both digested the news. Harry uncrossed his arms and flexed his hands a few times, silently cursing Rita Skeeter. He really had hoped that they’d be allowed at least have some time to enjoy being together before their romantic lives were splashed across the news pages for the entire wizarding world to read about. He should have known better.
 
At this moment, he was more worried about Hermione. He glanced over at her, and was dismayed to see all the blood had left her face, turning it a chalky white. She looked at him with tears shining brightly, and his heart ached. Although she’d been in the spotlight for many years, she’d never gotten over the embarrassment and hurt she’d felt in the fourth year when Skeeter had branded her a scarlet woman for toying with Harry’s affections; and to have Skeeter, of all people, being the one to do the headline must have hurt even more. Hermione was able to cope with the media when it had to do with her work, but she’d always resented their intrusion in her personal life, and now that life was once again about to be fodder for the wizarding world to gossip over with their morning coffee.
 
At that moment, Harry wished he hadn’t shielded her and Ron so much from the media. While he knew he was fair game, he’d done his best over the years to take the heat off Hermione and Ron so that they could keep their personal lives out of the media’s scrutinious glare. However, Harry knew there was no keeping this out of the spotlight – he and Hermione were about to become front-page news, for all the reasons Hermione despised.
 
“Hermione … ”
 
“Just don’t.” She held up a hand. “I don’t want to talk about it. We’ll deal with it in the morning. I’m going to bed.”
 
Harry clenched his jaw. “We have to talk about it now, Hermione. We have to decide how we’re going to handle it.”
 
Hermione paused, her gaze averted to the floor. “There’s nothing to handle, Harry,” she said, her voice emotionless. “It’s none of anyone’s business.”
 
Harry looked at her with concern. “I know that, Hermione,” he said softly, moving to stand in front of her and running his hands gently up and down her bare arms. “But like it or not, they’re going to hound us. We’re going to have to deal with it.” Hermione glared at him fiercely, a tear spilling down her cheek, and he pulled her into his arms. She made no move to touch him; instead she just stood there, still as a statue. “I’m so sorry. If it could be any other way, if they could just harass me, you know that’s what I’d choose.” His voice was gentle and calming, and it wasn’t long before Hermione snaked her arms up to wrap them around his neck and hug him tightly.
 
“No,” she said quietly. “It’s not your fault, Harry. It’s never been your fault.” They stood in the middle of the lounge room, clinging to each other tightly. She took a deep breath and pulled herself together, realising that at this moment, they didn’t have many choices. Taking a deep breath, she pulled back. “We’re in this together,” she said in a determined tone.
 
Harry looked at her. “Yes, we are. And that’s how we’ll deal with it. Together.” He leaned over and kissed her sweetly, then rested his forehead gently against hers. “Besides, they’ll soon tire of us and find someone else to annoy.”
 
Hermione snorted. “You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, Harry.”
 
In spite of the situation, Harry couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, we can always hope.”
 
Hermione smiled at him. “So now what?”
 
Harry pulled back a little so he could take her face in his hands and look her straight in the eye. “How about I go make us some hot chocolate and we sit on the swing and talk about it?”
 
Hermione nodded. “Okay.”
 
Harry pressed his lips to her forehead, then walked into the kitchen. Hermione watched his retreating figure and closed her eyes to suppress the tears that threatened to fall again, then headed out to the porch, sighing deeply.
 

* * * * *

 
Hermione looked up as the porch door swung open. She scooted over on the swing so Harry could sit down, and he handed her the mug with a kiss. They sat together silently, their fingers entwined between them, sipping their chocolate. Harry pushed a little against the ground and the swing began to move gently. The motion lulled Hermione into a state of complete calm. Taking slow, deep breaths of night air, she allowed the cold to clear her mind and settle on the task at hand.
 
She knew that keeping their relationship out of the media had been unavoidable. She was adult enough to admit to being bitterly disappointed it was so soon; however, in the long run, it was probably best to get it over and done with. With a nod, she drained her mug, handing it to Harry, who placed both hers and his on the ground next to the swing.

Hermione turned towards him, curling her legs up on the swing underneath her and shifting her body so she was leaning into him. She slid an arm across his chest and put her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and threw his arm around her shoulders, squeezing gently.
 
It was a few long moments before either of them spoke.
 
“How do you want to handle this, sweetheart?” Harry asked softly.
 
Hermione paused a moment to get her thoughts in order. “It’s probably best if we just confirm it, make a short statement, and move on. No point denying it – I don’t want to lie about it.” She paused again, trying to put into words what was swirling in her head. “It’s not that I want to hide how I feel about you, Harry. I don’t think I could. It’s just … ”
 
“I know, Hermione,” he interrupted, kissing her again. “I wanted to be able to enjoy it a bit, too. But maybe it’s best that we get it out in the open now, so they’ll have their story and hopefully move on to something else.”
 
Hermione nodded slightly. “Exactly what I was thinking.”
 
Harry stared out at the black night. “Okay, here’s what we do. I’ll take you to work, because I have no doubt they’ll be in Diagon Alley, hoping to catch us. We’ll make a short statement confirming we’re together and leave it at that. I’ll drop you off, come back for you at lunch, then pick you up tomorrow night, just in case a few persistent ones are still hanging around.”
 
Hermione lifted her head off his shoulder. “Harry, you don’t have to chaperon me. I am an adult; I can handle them.”
 
“I know that, love. But you don’t really want to, do you?” He turned to look at her, and even in the dark, she could see his eyes boring into her soul. There was something about his eyes and the way he looked at her that always made her shiver, as if he was reading her mind.
 
“No, I don’t,” she admitted with a sigh. “I guess I’m going to have to get used to it though, as your better half.”
 
She saw Harry’s mouth twitch with laughter. “My better half? Why are you the better half?”
 
“Because I just am,” Hermione said with a grin. “All women are.”
 
Harry leaned over to kiss her neck softly. “I won’t disagree with that,” he murmured, continuing a trail of kisses over her neck. “We’ll get through this, Hermione,” he said softly. He pulled back and looked at her.
 
“Yes, we will,” Hermione answered resolutely. “Now shut up and kiss me, Harry Potter.”
 
Harry didn’t bother to answer, instead choosing to do what he was told. Hermione snuggled closer as his mouth covered hers, and she allowed herself to be swept up in the wonderful emotion that was Harry kissing her. She deepened the kiss, the craving for the feel of him invading her senses rapidly. As it always was wont to do, just kissing was soon becoming not enough, and their pulses began to race as their minds clouded over with lust and desire for something only the other could give.
 
Hermione didn’t even murmur in protest as Harry slid off the swing and picked her up, placing one arm under her knees and the other around her back. She went effortlessly into his arms as their lips rejoined, and she only just managed to open the door as he carried her to his bed, their mugs forgotten.
 

* * * * *

 
Monday, 10 November, 2008
 
Hermione stretched and giggled as Harry’s fingers ran along the curve of her breast. “You can’t possibly be ready to go again so soon,” she said teasingly.
 
“I’m not,” Harry answered regretfully.
 
“Don’t sound so sad, Harry. It’s not like it’s the last time we’ll ever have sex.”
 
“I’m glad to hear it.” He leaned over to kiss her. “I’m going to hop in the shower.”
 
Wordlessly, she slid out of bed to follow him, shutting the shower door behind them as Harry adjusted the water to get the right temperature. He stuck his head underneath the nozzle to wet his hair, then moved so Hermione could do the same. He watched as the rivulets of water ran down her neck and between the valley of her breasts before slipping down her stomach and disappearing.
 
“We really need to get a bigger shower, Harry. Maybe one like Draco and Ginny have, with the two shower heads so we’re both under the water.”
 
Harry shimmied forward and pulled Hermione close, wrapping his arms around her waist and stepping back under the spray. “I think I much prefer this. Now we’re both under the water.”
 
Hermione slid her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. “It’s nice and cozy,” she agreed. “But it would be easier it if was a little bigger.”
 
“Maybe,” Harry agreed. “Let me do your hair.” Hermione turned around as Harry picked up the bottle of shampoo. Squeezing a small amount onto his hand, he rubbed them together and began to massage her scalp, his fingers moving in gentle circles. Hermione loved Harry washing her hair; he did it every morning, and it gave her a few minutes to completely relax. Of course, she preferred it much more when he moved on to wash her body.
 
Once he was done, she reciprocated, then they washed each other between kisses. Finally, they had to get out and get ready for the day, Hermione scooting across the hall to her room, which nowadays was left empty because she spent every night in Harry’s bed. However, her wardrobe was still in her closet, and as she rifled through it, looking for something to wear, she made the same vow she did every morning to move her clothes across to Harry’s room.
 
After much contemplation, Hermione chose to go for something simple but elegant – tailored black pants, an open collared white shirt, and a strand of pearls she’d inherited from her late grandmother. Drying her hair with a quick drying spell, she straightened it and twisted it up into a French roll, securing it in place with a few quick waves of her wand. Slipping on her heels, she examined her outfit in her mirror quickly before applying her makeup and going back to Harry’s room.
 
As she got to the doorway, she found him straightening his tie and jacket. Although he wore robes to work and wasn’t required to dress up, he always wore a business suit underneath in case he was called upon to deal with Muggles for the Ministry. Hermione had always thought he looked smart in it, but that morning, her heart melted as she stared at him, and not for the first time she wondered how she could have been so close to him for all these years and not realised just how much he meant to her.
 
“You ready to go, love?”
 
The sound of Harry’s voice snapped Hermione out of her reverie, and she nodded. “Yes. Let’s get it over and done with, shall we?” She held out her hand and Harry crossed the room to take it, then together, they made their way downstairs to fetch their robes and briefcases. With one last, lengthy kiss, they Disapparated.
 

* * * * *

 
Hermione’s fingers tightened their grip on Harry’s as they stood outside The Leaky Cauldron.
 
“Here we go,” she said, taking a deep breath. Harry gave her a smile and pushed the door open, and they entered the pub. A few people looked up at them, but no one gave them a second glance. They took a few steps towards the entrace to Diagon Alley.
 
“Morning Harry, Hermione,” Tom the bartender greeted them. Tom was on a first name basis with pretty much the entire wizarding world, Hermione surmised. All wizards had to pass through The Leaky Cauldron sooner or later.
 
“Morning, Tom,” Harry greeted him cordially. He glanced around. “It’s rather quiet here this morning,” he said in a casual tone that belied his current state of mind.
 
Tom picked up a glass and cleaned it. “The vultures are outside. I had a pack of ‘em in here before, but I kicked them out. You think they’d at least do you the courtesy of actually getting into the Alley before attacking you.”
 
Hermione let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “How many are there, do you think?”
 
“Oh, love, I wouldn’t even hazard a guess. Ain’t never seen so many reporters in one place for a long time. There are even a few foreign ones about.” He shook his head. “Bloody tossers. Do you want me to get you an escort or something?”
 
Hermione tried hard not to laugh. Tom meant well, but there was no escort alive that would save them from facing the media.
 
“Thanks, Tom, but we’ll be okay,” She heard Harry answer. “We’ll tell them what they want to hear and hopefully they’ll go away.”
 
“So it’s true?” Tom said with a twinkle in his eye. “Are you two dating?”
 
Harry smiled. “Yes, we are,” he confirmed, pulling Hermione closer and kissing the side of her head.
 
“Well, that’s great. Come back one night, you can have a drink on me.”
 
“Thanks, Tom. We’ll see you soon.” With that, Harry led Hermione through to the courtyard. They both stopped and stared at the brick wall in front of them. On the other side lay quite possibly dozens of reporters just ready to pounce on them. In silent agreement, Harry took out his wand and opened the wall.
 
They’d only stepped halfway through when they heard the ruckus.
 
“There they are! There they are! Look, it’s Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!” A cacophony of voices in all tones and accents assaulted their ears as a crowd of people rushed towards them. Hermione’s first instinct at seeing the sheer size of the crowd was to make a run for it, but she forced herself to take a few steps forward and stopped when they reached the gathering.
 
There was total silence for a moment as cameras flashed and quills were poised in mid air. Then, as if a dam had burst, all sorts of questions were thrown out, so many different ones that Hermione had trouble deciphering even one or two of them. This continued on for a few moments before Harry held up a hand, and a hush went through the crowd.
 
“Please, let’s all just calm down, shall we?” he said in a take-charge tone. “Hermione and I have a short statement to make. Yes, we’re happy to confirm that we are in love and living in a romantic relationship.” He paused as notes were scribbled furiously and murmurs went through the crowd. A few more cameras flashed. “No, we are not engaged, we are not married, we are not eloping, and Hermione is not pregnant,” he added, answering four of the questions thrown at them at once. “We thank you for your good wishes, but really don’t have anything to add at the moment. Now, if you will excuse us, we must get to work.” Without waiting for an answer, he stepped through the crowd, keeping Hermione close and making sure her path wasn’t blocked.
 
As they got beyond the crowd, Hermione sighed in relief … but as they reached the alleyway that led to the entrance of PGW Industries, she felt a hand on her arm, halting her to a stop. “Aren’t you going to say anything, Hermione?” an unpleasantly familiar voice asked. Hermione turned to look at the owner of the hand, and was instantly annoyed to see the witch in the bright pink robes standing before her.
 
“Take your hand off me, Skeeter,” she said through gritted teeth. “I don’t have anything to say to you.” Hermione tried to keep her voice even, but failed. She still hadn’t forgiven Rita for the article she’d written about her as a fourteen year old, nor about the damning article on Harry when he’d split from April.
 
“Come now, Hermione. Nothing at all?”
 
Hermione opened her mouth to answer when Harry stepped forward. “Take your hand off Hermione now, Rita,” he said in a low, almost cruel voice. “She’s already told you we have nothing to say to you.” Something in his tone, or perhaps it was the look in his eyes, made Rita release her grip on Hermione’s arm and take a step back.
 
“Fine, play it your way. I’ll just use other sources to get what I want.” Rita turned on her heel and flounced away, her robes flowing behind her. Hermione’s lips thinned as she watched her.
 
“Don’t worry about her. Let’s go.” Harry paused long enough to place a brief kiss on the side of Hermione’s head before pulling her towards the building.
 

* * * * *

 
After making their way silently through another gaggle of reporters outside the entrance to the building, Harry and Hermione were greeted by the tall, bulky security wizard who stood in the lobby. Everyone was required to sign in before being allowed entry to the laboratories – a security measure the mysterious Jago had felt necessary to install as the company grew and expanded.
 
“Morning, Dr. Granger,” the guard said with a nod. “I tried to get rid of them outside, but they’re a persistent lot.”
 
“Good morning, Shorty,” Hermione answered, using the company’s nickname for the guard who could give Hagrid a run for his money. “I’m sorry about the noise, I’m sure they’ll go away.”
 
Shorty waved a huge hand at her. “Not to worry, Dr. Granger,” he said, moving his robe to reveal his wand holstered to his leg. “I’ve got ‘em covered. They won’t bother you in here.”
 
Hermione smiled and moved away from the lobby towards the doors behind which lay a maze of corridors. As she reached the door, she stopped. A shaft of light that looked like a strip of green electricity appeared out of nowhere and circled around her head.
 
“Confirmed, Granger, Dr. Hermione Joanne. You are cleared for entrance, level nine. You may proceed.” Level Nine was the highest clearance given to any staff member. Only Hermione and Elias, and presumably Jago, had this clearance. It meant that Hermione could wander freely into any and all parts of the building. The door slid open and she paused, turning to look behind her.
 
“Confirmed, Potter, Harry James. You are cleared for entrance, level three. You may proceed.” Harry had been given regular visitor status, along with Ron, Kellie, Ginny and Draco. It allowed them entry into Hermione’s wing of the building, so they could meet her for lunch or drop by for a visit. All family members and close friends had been given clearance after having passed the security checks. Hermione understood why they were necessary, but once in a while, it did make her feel a bit uncomfortable that her friends had to be scrutinised every time they dropped by.
 
Once the door slid back into place behind them, Hermione reached for Harry’s hand as they made their way down the corridor and to the right towards Hermione’s lab.
 
“Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Harry asked, his relief obvious.
 
“No, it wasn’t,” Hermione admitted in agreement. They continued on in silence, Harry occasionally squeezing her hand in reassurance.
 
Finally, they reached the lab, and the silver door slid open. “There you are!” Tabitha said in greeting, rising off her stool and putting down a copy of Witch Weekly.
 
It didn’t escape Hermione’s attention. “What are you reading that rubbish for?”
 
Tabitha waved a hand. “Who cares? The question is why didn’t you tell me?” She shrieked in delight and nearly bowled Hermione over in a hug.

Hermione couldn’t help but smile. “We weren’t keeping it a secret on purpose, Tab, it’s just that we .. well … ”
 
“No need to explain. At least I know now. Congratulations.” She gave her friend and boss a quick squeeze, then kissed Harry’s cheek. “I couldn’t believe the ruckus outside when I got in this morning. I thought we must have had a VIP coming.”
 
“Alas, no, only us,” Harry remarked in a slightly sarcastic tone. “Sorry if they bothered you, Tab.”
 
“Not at all, Harry. I’ll tell you something, they’re right bloody cheeky. One had the audacity to ask me for some dirt on you.” Tabitha shook her head in disbelief.
 
“What did you tell her?” Hermione asked in an amused tone.
 
“It was a him, and I told him that you were really a man.”
 
“Tabitha!” Hermione covered her mouth, horrified, while behind her Harry cracked up laughing.
 
Tabitha smiled. “Hermione, I’m kidding. I told him to bugger off. He wasn’t very pleased with that. Maybe I should have told him you were a man, in revenge for your not telling me that you two were hot and heavy.”
 
Hermione blushed slightly. She adored Tabitha, but sometimes the older woman made a comment that always made Hermione go red. Actually, upon reflection, Tabitha reminded Hermione of an older version of Ginny – neither woman was afraid to say what they thought.
 
“Well, I guess I’d best get going, or Percy will be on my back all day,” Harry said.
 
Hermione turned to him. “I’ll walk you out.” She waited until the door had slid shut behind them. “Will you come back for lunch?”
 
Harry smiled and leaned forward. “Of course I will. Don’t think I could make it through the entire day without doing this.” He closed the distance between them as Hermione’s hands came up to rest on his forearms. She felt his arms go around her waist as his tongue slid into her mouth and she immediately surrendered to the now-familiar sensations that coursed through her body.
 
“No snogging in the corridors, folks. Sorry. New rules.” Harry and Hermione broke apart to see a grinning Tabitha standing in the open doorway. Hermione hadn’t even noticed it open.
 
“Oh yeah?” Harry questioned good-naturedly. “Whose rules?”
 
“Mine. I need your girlfriend inside to take a look at something for me.”
 
Harry smiled. “I guess I can give her up for a few hours, but I’ll be back to claim her at lunch time.” He kissed her briefly one last time, then turned and made his way back towards the entrance. Hermione stood frozen to the spot until she lost sight of the billowing green robes that surrounded him, then followed Tabitha back into the lab to begin her work day.
 

* * * * *

 
Later that evening
 
Hermione took off her robe and placed it on the hook behind the door, then dropped her case to the floor with a clatter. As it turned out, Harry hadn’t been able to meet her for lunch; he’d owled her to say he needed to go over to Paris urgently for the day at Percy’s insistence and would be back later that night. Hermione had tried not to let her disappointment show, but she couldn’t remember the last time an afternoon had passed so slowly.
 
Reaching into her case, she pulled out the newspapers and magazines that Tabitha had left lying around upon her departure for the night. Hermione was adamant she wasn’t going to read any of the press, but couldn’t stop herself tucking them into her bag, just in case. She threw them on the kitchen counter and went through the owls that had arrived during the day. There was quite a stack of letters and cards, and she’d found a few piles of ash, meaning she’d missed the pleasure of a few Howlers.
 
Hermione had to grin at the postcard she found halfway through the pile. On the front was a picture of Ginny and Draco sitting at a bar, sipping out of a huge pineapple with two straws. They both waved vigorously at Hermione. She flipped it over and touched the top left hand corner, and a message in Ginny’s flowery scrawl appeared, one sentence at a time, then vanished again as if the postcard had been blank all along. “Why didn’t you tell us??? Yes, it made the news here too. Having a marvellous time, lots of sun, sand, and sex.” Seeing this, Hermione couldn’t help but laugh out loud and shake her head. She read on, “Hope the media isn’t hassling you too much, tell them to sod off if they do. Will see you when we get back. We love you, G & D.” Hermione smiled, then put the card aside for Harry to look at when he got home.
 
Harry. She missed him so much she ached. Ached to just see him, be able to touch him. To have him hold her in his arms and kiss her troubles away. Glancing up at the clock, she noticed it was close to seven. Deciding to keep herself busy to alleviate the wait, she fed the animals then got changed and settled herself down in front of the fire with some parchments to look over and coffee to keep her awake.
 
Two hours later, there was still no Harry in sight and Hermione felt rather sleepy. Ever since she’d started sleeping with Harry, they’d lost out on a lot of actual sleep, instead preferring to indulge in other activities. Hermione wasn’t complaining, but it was starting to catch up with her. She pulled the small rug off the back of the lounge and stretched out, resting her head on one of the cushions. Even as she told herself she had to stay awake, her eyes closed and she found herself being pulled into slumber.
 

* * * * *

 
Hermione was roused out of her sleep by a soft pair of lips pressing gently against her own. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, finding a familiar pair of green ones staring back at her.
 
“Harry,” she murmured sleepily. “You’re home.” She smiled at him.
 
“Yes, love, I’m home. I’m sorry I’m so late, I got stuck. I thought you’d be in bed.”
 
Hermione made an attempt to get up and accepted the outstretched hand Harry offered to pull herself up and off the lounge and into his arms. She stretched up to kiss him. “I missed you,” she explained. “I wanted to wait up but I must have dozed off. What time is it?”
 
“Almost midnight,” Harry answered. “Time for bed, I think.” He bent down and picked Hermione up easily in his arms, and she slid an arm around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes again. She was suddenly so overcome with fatigue after the long day she’d experienced, she just wanted to curl up in bed beside Harry and sleep for the next ten years.
 
They made it up to his room and Hermione stood still long enough to allow Harry to undress her and put the top half of his pyjamas on her, then she crawled into bed and waited until he changed into the bottom half. He got into bed beside her and pulled her into his arms, and she was asleep again almost instantly.
 
Harry pressed his lips against her head and lay beside for a long time, content just to watch her sleep. He was overwhelmed with the depth of the love he felt for the woman asleep in his arms, and if he was honest with himself, he was a little scared too. He’d never felt this way about anyone before, and he wondered how he’d cope if she ever left him. Not that he thought she ever would – he was completely convinced that she felt as much for him as he did for her – but deep down, that little boy who’d been locked away in a cupboard tended to pop up every now and then and Harry’s insecurities came flooding back.
 
But that was long ago, and that child was gone. In his place was a man who was happily in love, and even luckier that that love was returned. Harry smiled and relaxed, but pulled Hermione a little bit closer. He placed a kiss on her forehead and she stirred, tilting her head and kissing his cheek, then settling back onto the pillow. Harry closed his eyes and soon, slumber took him.
 

* * * * *

 
When Hermione awoke the next morning, she automatically turned over to cuddle up to Harry for a few moments while she roused herself from sleep, but the bed was empty. Opening her eyes and blinking until her vision came into focus, she saw that the quilt had been straightened up so as not to leave her cold. Frowning, she wondered where he was. She strained to listen but couldn’t hear the shower going, so he wasn’t there. Then she heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and the bedroom door began to open, so she quickly laid back down and closed her eyes, feigning sleep.
 
She heard the soft shuffle of feet across the carpet, then the noise of something being placed on the dresser near her side of the bed. The bed dipped with the weight of Harry sitting down. She felt him gently run his thumb down her cheek, then it was gone, only to be replaced with his lips pressing gently against hers.
 
She smiled and sighed happily, reaching her arms up to slide them around his neck and pull him closer, her tongue running along his lips, seeking entrance. He granted it with a surprised moan and they kissed passionately for a few long moments.
 
Harry pulled away to talk. “Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured as Hermione kissed him again. “I made you breakfast.”
 
Hermione glanced over at the tray placed on the dresser, then turned back to Harry, who was leaning over her, his mouth hovering inches from hers. “So you did. You’re beginning to spoil me with all these breakfasts in bed,” she whispered. She reached up and took his glasses off, then pulled his head back down towards her, capturing his lips once again in a lingering kiss.
 
Finally, she released him, and he kissed her nose, waving his wand in the direction of the tray. It lifted into the air and floated over to them. Harry grabbed it and waited for Hermione to prop herself up with pillows, then placed it over her legs.
 
They ate together, sharing an occasional kiss while Harry filled Hermione in about his trip to Paris. Hermione then told him about her day and the waiting media who’d not given up in their quest to get more details from her. Shorty had escorted her to The Leaky Cauldron, so she was able to make it through relatively unscathed. She also told him about the many owls they’d received, the few Howlers they’d missed, and the postcard from Ginny and Draco, which made him laugh.
 
“How very them,” he commented when Hermione told him what Ginny had written. “Sounds like they’re having fun.”
 
“They have the right idea, being in the sun and not having to worry about anything.” Hermione sighed, wishing for a moment that she, too, was sunning it up in Aruba.
 
“Well,” Harry began slowly, taking a bite of his toast. “We could always go away too.”
 
Hermione sighed again. “There’s nothing I’d rather do more, Harry, but I can’t leave work right now. We’re at a critical stage in the project, and I’m anxious to get this potion worked out so we can move forward. I couldn’t possibly walk out now.” Harry looked a little disappointed, and anxious to reassure him, she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. “We can always go away for another weekend,” she said with a mischievous grin.
 
Harry matched her grin with one that lit up his entire face, and it made Hermione’s heart flutter. “Sounds good to me.”
 
“Great,” Hermione kissed him once more, then clambered up out of bed.
 
“Hey, where are you going?” Harry reached out and grabbed her arm as she brushed past him, proving the seeker reflexes he’d honed in school hadn’t faded with age. “Not so fast, Dr. Granger. I’ve got a present for you.” He pulled her onto his lap and picked up a small package Hermione hadn’t noticed, then handed it to her and looped his arms loosely around her waist.
 
“What’s this?” she asked in surprise.
 
“Something I bought you in Paris.”
 
“You had time to shop in Paris?”
 
“Not really,” he said with a smile, kissing her shoulder. “I happened to be passing a store and saw it in the window, so I stopped for five minutes and bought it for you.”
 
Hermione placed her free arm around his shoulders and leaned in. “Thank you,” she whispered, brushing her lips against his. Letting him go, she straightened up within the confines of his embrace and nimbly undid the package, which was prettily wrapped up with a red bow on top. As she opened the box inside, she found layers of tissue paper. Pulling them apart, she pulled out the gift – a heart shaped trinket box, with a multicoloured gemstone on the lid.
 
“Oh, Harry,” she breathed. “It’s gorgeous!” She ran her finger gently over the intricate carvings on the lid, carefully touching the dazzling gemstone, the likes of which she’d never seen before. Hermione had collected trinket boxes ever since she was a child and had been given one by her belated grandmother. Her collection sat in her study, enclosed in a glass display case. Harry had given a great many of them to her over the years, as he always kept an eye out for them when he was abroad for work. But this was the first one he’d bought her as her boyfriend, and it meant even more. “I love it,” she smiled happily at him and kissed his forehead. “And I’ll show you tonight just how much I love it … and you.” The promise in her voice stirred something deep inside of Harry, and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to pin her to the bed underneath him and make slow, passionate love to her. But now was not the time; they had to get ready for work. He kissed her briefly and patted her leg.
 
Hermione got up off his lap and ambled towards the shower, undoing his pyjama top and sliding it off her shoulders as she paused at the doorway. She glanced back at him. “Want to wash me?” she asked in a sultry voice, letting the garment fall to the floor. Harry couldn’t move fast enough.
 

* * * * *

 
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, Aruba, The Caribbean
 
Ginny stirred and opened her eyes, blinking a few times as the sun poured into the room. It looked like it was already a beautiful day outside. She stirred and stretched her body, covered only in a crisp white sheet. She turned to her right to find Draco propped up on one elbow, looking at her with a small smile on his face, when it hit her.
 
It was their wedding day. In less than twelve hours, she would be Mrs. Draco Malfoy.
 
A huge grin spread over Ginny’s face and she reached up to stroke Draco’s cheek. “Good morning, baby,” she murmured softly, her voice filled with happiness.
 
“Good morning, Miss Weasley,” Draco responded in a husky tone. “That’s the last time I can say that.”
 
They smiled at each other, and Ginny crawled out from under the sheet to lay on top of him, their bodies only separated by the thin piece of cotton. Her long red hair fell around them, enclosing them in their own little world as Ginny lowered her head. “Happy anniversary,” she whispered before settling her lips on his. She relaxed on top of him as they kissed, and Draco held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her waist. They stayed that way for a long moment, Ginny’s hands holding Draco’s face firmly so she could kiss him lovingly.
 
Finally, she pulled away. “I love you,” she said softly, looking deeply into his slate eyes. His joy and love for her was reflected in them.
 
“I love you more, beautiful,” he said just as softly. They didn’t need to speak loudly; their eyes spoke volumes.
 
Ginny kissed him again just as deeply, before making herself pull away. “Come on, let’s get moving. It’s a lovely day outside, it would be a shame to waste it. We can wander down to the shops so I can spend some of your money.” She grinned cheekily at him and began to get up.
 
“Hey,” Draco said, pulling her back against his chest. “That’s it? That’s all I get, just a kiss?” He sounded more amused than annoyed.
 
“Yes, Draco. I told you yesterday, no more sex until we’re married. I want tonight to be special, so you’ll just have to wait.” She kissed him once more lightly, then got up as he released her so she could head for the shower. He watched her naked figure retreat, her hips swaying lightly as they did when she walked, and it was all he could do not to ignore her and follow her anyway. But he understood why she wanted tonight to be special, and as he folded his arms up behind his head, he realised he was quite possibly one of the luckiest wizards alive.
 

* * * * *

 
Later that evening
 
Ginny carefully fastened the last flower to the crown of her head and stepped back, gazing one last time at her reflection. She was all dressed and ready to start her married life with Draco. Her gown, which she’d picked after much deliberating, was sky blue. Made of silk, it had a sheer overlay, which made it shimmer in the light. Spaghetti straps held it up on her shoulders, and the front was a v neck, but not too plunging. Her arms were bare, but she’d bought a matching lace shawl to wrap around her shoulders, so she was unlikely to feel the cold. Her body tingled with nervousness; although she’d been with Draco for many years, this was a turning point in their relationship. But as Ginny stared at her appearance, she realised she’d never felt quite so happy in her entire life. Smiling, she pushed her long hair, charmed curly for the occasion, back over her shoulders and patted the small flowers she’d woven through it to make sure they didn’t fall out. Then, with a deep breath, she stepped out of the massive bathroom to join her husband-to-be.
 
He was waiting for her in the lounge room, resting against the edge of the lounge. He stood as she entered, his breath taken away. “Oh, Gin,” he breathed as his eyes travelled over her. She watched him, and when he looked back up at her, she could see exactly what he was thinking.
 
“Do I look okay?” she asked a little nervously, unnecessarily smoothing her dress down.
 
Draco didn’t answer for a few moments. “Okay? Are you kidding? I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.”
 
Ginny smiled as she felt the tears well up. She reached up to wipe them away carefully. “You’re not supposed to make me cry before we get there,” she said jokingly. Grabbing her shawl and pulling it around her shoulders, she took his hand and looked at him. He was wearing dark blue trousers with a short sleeved, collared shirt that was the same colour as her dress. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she murmured, standing up on her toes to kiss him softly. “We should go, Leanne will be waiting.” Draco nodded and dropped her hand, and they Disapparated.
 

* * * * *

 
They arrived in a secluded part of the beach that lay directly below the hotel. The sun was setting, throwing a multi-coloured hue over the water – one that contained pink and purple and orange. They couldn’t have picked a better evening for the ceremony; the breeze coming in from the water was light. Leanne Benton was waiting for them, wand in hand. She greeted them both with a kiss. Leanne and Ginny had worked together many times during weddings at which Ginny had co-ordinated and Leanne officiated. Leanne had been honoured when Ginny asked her to perform the ceremony. Ginny knew she could trust her to keep it to herself, which was one of the reasons she chose her.
 
“I have to tell you I’m so thrilled to be here this evening,” Leanne said as Ginny and Draco greeted her.
 
“Thank you for coming all this way, Leanne. We know how busy you are,” Ginny said sincerely.
 
Leanne waved a hand. “It was nothing. I’ll simply Apparate back to the portkey, then head home. No problem at all. Are you ready to begin?”
 
Ginny and Draco nodded, then turned to face each other, clasping hands as she began. “We’re here this evening because you’ve chosen to make a commitment to each other, one that is binding magically, emotionally, and spiritually. You’re here because of the deep love that you share, and because you want to spend the rest of your lives together. There is no greater commitment than the one you are about to face, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to help you on your journey.” Leanne smiled broadly at them both. “I understand you want to say a few words before the actual vows. Draco, perhaps you’d like to go first?”
 
Draco nodded as he looked deeply into Ginny’s warm brown eyes. “Ginny, when you walked back into my life nine years ago, I couldn’t have even begun to imagine what you’d bring into it. I knew when I first saw you again there was something special about you, but I never dreamed that I would be so lucky as to win your heart, or that I was worthy of your love,” he paused to take a deep breath, and he noticed Ginny’s eyes well up with tears. She squeezed his hands, and he continued on. “I was a mess nine years ago, and I didn’t know how to pick myself up. Not only did you help me do that, but you stayed with me through everything. You gave everything to me – your heart, your body, and your soul. And every time I look at you, I fall for you all over again. I can’t imagine my world without you in it, beautiful. I couldn’t live without you.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat, and a tear slid down Ginny’s cheek. He let go of her hand and brushed it away. “And now you’re about to become my wife and that makes me happier than I ever thought I’d be. I love you, Virginia. I will love you forever, with all of my heart.” Ginny let out a sob and let go of his other hand, then stepped forward to wrap her arms around his neck. Draco pulled her close, holding her tightly.
 
They hugged for a few moments, then Ginny pulled back and wiped her eyes again. Leanne gave them a few moments to compose themselves, then she turned to Ginny. “Would you like to speak now, Ginny?” she asked.
 
Ginny nodded, grasping Draco’s hands again. Taking a deep breath, she spoke. “Draco, I never thought that I would find my soul mate at such a young age, but when we first got together, I knew this was it. We’ve been through some tough times, but we’ve always come through them stronger. You complete my life, Draco. You make me happy when I’m feeling sad; you make me laugh when I want to frown. Sometimes I don’t even have to speak and you know what to do. You’re always by my side, which is where I want you to be forever.” She paused again and more tears trickled down her cheeks. “I could never love anyone half as much as I love you, Draco. I will love you forever, with all of my heart.” Ginny finished her vows the same way he did, and as she completed them, she saw Draco’s eyes mist over. He lifted their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her fingers.
 
A few moments later, Leanne spoke. “Do you have the rings?” Draco nodded and pulled them out of his pocket. Leanne took them from him and placed them on the end of her wand. “Draco, if you’d like to take Ginny’s ring?” Draco slid Ginny’s simple gold band off the tip of the wand as Ginny held her left hand out. “Repeat after me,” Leanne instructed.
 
Draco listened, and spoke. “I, Draco Xavier Malfoy, take you, Virginia Rachael Weasley, to be my wife. I promise to love, cherish and honour you, every day for the rest of our lives.” As he said the words, he slid the ring onto the third finger of her left hand.
 
Leanne held her wand out towards Ginny, and she took the larger ring from it. She grabbed Draco’s left hand in hers and held the ring in her right. “I, Virginia Rachael Weasley, take you, Draco Xavier Malfoy, to be my husband. I promise to love, cherish and honour you, every day for the rest of our lives.” With that, she slid the ring onto his finger. When she was done, they held their left hands up, placing their palms against each other.
 
Leanne raised her wand, and a red sliver of light shot out from it, wrapping itself around their joined hands. It looked like an enchanted piece of rope, and the two ends of the beam immediately joined together, drawn like magnets. Leanne smiled broadly. “That’s the quickest I’ve ever seen that happen. Truly a good sign for a long and happy marriage. Draco and Ginny, it is my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. I’ll leave you to it to kiss your bride, Draco.” With that, she stepped back and promptly Disapparated, leaving them alone.
 
They stared at the empty space for a second, then turned back to each other. For the longest of moments, all they could do was look at each other, their eyes able to convey what their voices could not. Finally, Draco took Ginny’s face in his hands, then lowered his head.
 
His lips brushed over hers in a feather soft kiss, then pressed more firmly. Ginny gladly reached for him, once again throwing her arms around his neck as he pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist. They kissed deeply for a few minutes, then Draco lifted Ginny up off the ground and spun her around as they both laughed.
 
“We’re married!” Ginny cried joyously as Draco set her down, weaving his fingers through her fiery red hair and pulling her to him again. They kissed once more, then by silent mutual agreement, Disapparated back to their hotel room.
 
When they got there, the laughter was gone, although their joy wasn’t. They slowly undressed each other, the task taking an inordinately long time because they were unable to wrench their mouths away from one another. When they finally stood before each other wearing no more than their wedding rings, Draco picked his wife up and carried her to the bed, placing her gently in the middle of it. Sliding on to join her there, he kissed her lips, then proceeded to love her in a way that only he could.
 

* * * * *

 
Friday, 21 November, 2008, England, UK
 
Hermione sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, looking up at the chrome clock that hung on the wall in front of her. It was almost 4 pm and she was tired. It had been a long week, work wise, and she hadn’t been home before 9 pm any night that week. She missed spending time with Harry more than she cared to admit. Having given her team the day off because of all the overtime they’d put in recently, she’d been able to plow through the bulk of her work in peace and quiet.
 
Hermione examined the parchment in front of her, then decided she’d simply had enough. It was time to go home, take a long bath, and prepare a nice, quiet, romantic dinner for herself and Harry so they could kick off the weekend on a happy note. Hastily shuffling her notes together, she locked them in the safe and performed the sealing spell, then tidied up her desk and made sure everything was in its proper place.
 
As the door to her lab slid shut behind her, she decided it was best to pop in and see Elias to let him know she was leaving early, in case he came looking for her. He was prone to dropping by without warning, so it was best to let him know her movements. She could have simply sent a message, but Hermione wanted to give him a quick update as well.
 
She reached the reception area, then used her status as the only person able to enter his office while he wasn’t there to go in to her advantage. Hermione didn’t think he was far away. As she waited, her thoughts drifted to Harry, and she wondered what he was doing at that moment. She smiled at the thought of him, and when the owl swooped in and dropped the roll of parchment on her head, she shrieked in surprise.
 
Standing up, she watched the large snowy white owl zoom back out the window, its mission done. Placing her hand on her heart and willing it to slow down, she took a deep breath, then bent down to pick up the discarded parchment. All it had was Elias’ name on it, and she placed it down on his desk when she saw the seal. Gringotts.
 
Sitting back down in the chair, Hermione ignored the delivery for a moment. She checked her watch, wondering where Elias had gotten to, when it hit her. The parchment was from Gringotts. It might have something to do with Jago. Right in front of her was a clue, the first tangible clue she’d had to solving the mystery of Jago in five years.
 
Hermione wrestled with her conscience. The parchment was not addressed to her; therefore she had no right to open it. But, a small part of her mind whispered, it might finally tell you who Jago is. You won’t have to wonder any longer. Besides, you can always cast a spell to reseal it – nobody ever need know. It can be your little secret.
 
Hermione bit her lip, knowing morally it was wrong. However, after five long minutes of staring at the parchment, her curiosity finally got the better of her, and with careful fingers, she nimbly broke open the seal and unrolled the parchment.
 
She had been correct. It was a statement regarding the transfer of monies from Jago’s vault to the company one. However, Hermione’s heart sank as she realised there was no name attached to it, only a vault number. It gave nothing away as to Jago’s identity.
 
With a frustrated groan, she put the parchment back down and picked up her wand to cast the spell that would reseal it when she thought of something.
 
No.
 
It couldn’t be.
 
All of a sudden, Hermione’s heart thudded painfully against her chest and her hands began to shake. She had to be wrong. She must have read the statement incorrectly. By the time she’d picked the parchment up again, her hands were trembling so badly she wouldn’t remember later how she’d managed to hold onto it.
 
Her eyes scanned down the page until she found what she was looking for. There was no mistake. The ink on the parchment was quite clear. It specified that the money was transferred from a particular vault.
 
Vault 687.
 
Harry’s vault.