The Coin

Bright sunlight streamed in around the drawn curtains, creating shafts of light that fell across the bed where Hermione lay. She woke slowly, squinting as a bright sliver of light hit her eyes. Turning away from the light, she stretched languidly. Briefly, she wondered why Crookshanks wasn't curled up on the pillow next to her like he usually was in the mornings. Her eyes slid shut again, only to pop right back open. Crookshanks wasn't on his pillow because she wasn't in her bed. She was in Harry's bed...in Harry's pajama top.

But how had she gotten undressed and into Harry's bed? The last thing she remembered was snogging Harry on his couch, curled up in his warm embrace. She must have gone to sleep and he had brought her into his bedroom, undressed her and put her to bed. Hermione blushed slightly at the thought. She'd hoped that when he had undressed her for the first time she'd be awake for the event and could reciprocate in kind. Well, there was always time for that later.

Throwing back the covers and swinging her legs to the floor, she padded across the cold hardwoods towards the bathroom, wondering where Harry was. Maybe he's making breakfast, she thought. After she emerged from the bathroom, her musings about Harry's whereabouts were confirmed when she heard a loud clatter coming from the general vicinity of the kitchen. She thought briefly of getting dressed, but decided quickly against it. She wanted to see the look in Harry's eyes when he saw her standing there wearing nothing but his pajama top.

Making her way quietly to the kitchen, Hermione stood in the doorway surveying the scene. Harry wasn't making breakfast. He was making...a mess. A cookbook sat propped open on the counter, a carton of eggs sat open, eggshells littering the countertop and flour scattered all over the cabinets. It looked like a small nuclear device had been detonated in the kitchen. Trying her best to stifle it, her laugh came out more like a snort. Her hand flew to cover her mouth as Harry whirled around.

"You're awake."

"Obviously," Hermione giggled. "And you're making a mess."

Harry flushed pink.

"I thought you were a better cook than that, Harry." She indicated the mess behind him, a smile on her face.

Grinning sheepishly, Harry turned back to the stove. "I thought I'd try something new," he murmured.

The aroma that drifted across the kitchen to Hermione was very enticing. Not as enticing as seeing Harry standing there at the stove clad only in the bottoms to the pajama top that she now wore, but the smell was heavenly nonetheless. "What is it?" she asked.

"Crepes suzette," he replied, sliding them out of the pan onto the waiting plates.

"Mmm, smells delicious. Anything I can do to help?"

Harry cast an amused glance over his shoulder. "You can get the juice out of the fridge."

Hermione rolled her eyes and walked to the refrigerator to comply.

"Oh, and there's some fruit on the bottom shelf." Harry turned in time to be treated to a nice view of Hermione's backside. As she bent over, his pajama top, which came to mid thigh when she was standing, now rode much higher. His gaze lingered on her long, milky white, very shapely legs, pausing none too briefly to gaze at the inviting view of her posterior. Harry finally managed to choke out. "Uh...they're grapes."

"Found them," she answered, closing the door and turning with the juice in one hand and the grapes in the other. "Anything else..." Hermione's voice trailed off when she caught sight of Harry's face. He looked like a starving man wanting to devour something whole, and it wasn't the breakfast he'd just prepared either. Well, I wanted to see the look in his eyes when he saw me in nothing but his pajama top. Guess he finally noticed.

Hermione's mouth went suddenly dry, then began to water profusely, and it had nothing to do with the enticing aromas still drifting through the kitchen. Where moments before a playful, friendly banter had filled the atmosphere, now lay tension so heavy in the air, it was making breathing difficult.

They stared into each other's eyes for what felt a lifetime, but in actuality was only mere moments. Finally, Harry broke the gaze, picked up the plates and carried them to the table. Hermione waited a moment, giving them both a chance to compose themselves, before following him to the table with the juice and grapes. They seated themselves on opposite sides of the table. Hermione glanced at him and smiled shyly. Harry's answering smile broke the tension and allowed them to both draw a relieved breath. They both tucked into their breakfasts, an easy, companionable silence blanketing the kitchen as they ate.

*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Ron knocked on the door with his right hand, a bouquet of daises hidden behind his back in his left. Lissa opened the door promptly, greeting him with a huge smile and a kiss on the cheek, linking her arm through his right one and pulling him into her house. She turned to him, grinning. "What do you have hidden behind your back?" she questioned.

"I don't have anything hidden behind my back," Ron grinned back, a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes, his left arm still bent behind his back. "All I have is my wand in my right hand," Ron indicated the wand he had drawn out from underneath his jumper.

"But what's in your left hand?"

Ron mumbled something she couldn't understand under his breath, then brought his empty left hand from behind his back, showing it to her.

Lissa frowned in confusion; sure that Ron had been hiding something. Ron's eyes still twinkled with mirth. It took a moment but comprehension finally dawned on her. Walking around behind him, she saw a bouquet of flowers levitating in the air. She giggled, then smiled as she took the daises in her hands. "They're beautiful. But how did you find fresh daisies this time of year in England?"

"We wizards have our ways."

Reaching out, he pulled her to him, trapping the bouquet between them, nuzzling her neck with his warm lips.

"Ron, you'll squash my flowers," Lissa protested only half-heartedly, tilting her head back to give him better access to her neck. He kissed his way up her neck until he claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss hello. After several long moments, they pulled apart, both more than a little breathless.

"That good morning kiss was about as good as that good-bye kiss last night," Ron smirked.

"About as good?" Lissa said indignantly through slightly swollen lips.

Ron nodded, a solemn look stealing across his features. "It's getting harder and harder to leave you every night. I wanted to stay and make love to you all night long. I know," he continued before she could interrupt, "we agreed that we'd wait til we had a whole night without having to worry about getting up the next morning. I want to be able to take our time, exhaust ourselves, then wake up the next morning and do it all over again."

Lissa's eyes darkened at his words; the idea more than appealed to her too. She'd waited a long time to take that most important step. She was more than ready to make love with Ron; she only hoped he wouldn't be disappointed with her after they did.

"I know. So do I. And it will be soon, I promise." Lissa reached up and threaded her fingers through the hair at the base of Ron's neck, pulling his head down to meet her lips once again.

Once they'd surfaced for air again, both breathing very raggedly, Ron asked, "How about tonight? We don't have to be to the Burrow until lunchtime tomorrow."

Lissa pulled back out of his arms quickly, looking shocked, hot color suffusing her cheeks. "No, Ron, we can't do that!"

Totally bemused by Lissa's sudden change of heart, Ron asked, "Why not?"

Lissa looked at him as if he was totally and utterly clueless. Ron just raised his eyebrows and shook his head at her.

She walked over to the table and laid the flowers down; her back turned to Ron so he couldn't see that her face was roughly the color of his hair.

"Lissa?" Ron had moved to stand right behind her.

"Because they'll know we've just...I can't face your family after we've spent the night..." she trailed off in a choked voice.

When she turned, and he saw the look in her eyes, Ron stifled the laugh that rose instantly; instead he drew her comfortingly into his arms. "Sweetheart," he tried mostly successfully to keep the laughter that was still lurking out of his voice, " do you really think my family will just be able to look at you and tell that we've just made love?" He felt her head nod against his chest. This time he couldn't suppress the chuckle that rose to his throat. Lissa looked up and glared at him.

"You think that's funny? Ron, I want to make a good impression on your family. I don't want them thinking badly of me."

Ron hugged her tightly for a moment, kissed the top of her head, then took her hand and led her over to the couch. Sitting down facing her, he took both her hands in his. "Melissa Anne Sullivan, there is no way my family would think badly of you. If anything, since they know me so well, they'll think you're too wonderful for me and that I am the one that doesn't deserve you. And they'd be right."

Lissa reached up and lightly caressed Ron's cheek. "Sometimes it scares me how much I love you. I know we've only been together for a few months, but I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. I just don't want to do anything to screw this up."

"That's supposed to be my line," he kissed the palm of her hand, which still rested on his cheek. "I love you, Lissa. Nothing is going to screw us up. Not my family. Not anything. I won't let it," Ron finished earnestly.

Lissa leaned in to kiss him softly on the lips, before pulling away reluctantly. "I better finish getting ready. We'll be late for our first appointment." Lissa rose from the couch and walked to her bedroom. She turned when she got to the door, smiling shyly. "Ron, if you still want to stay tonight, I couldn't think of anything I'd like more."

All Ron could do was nod his head mutely and smile back at her.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^*

After they finished breakfast, Harry told Hermione to go get dressed while he cleaned up the kitchen. She complied after only a perfunctory offer to help. Less than ten minutes later, Harry stood outside his bedroom door wondering if Hermione was finished yet,

"You decent?" he called out.

"Yes," she replied. "You can come in."

Harry pushed open the door. Hermione stood in front of his mirror, trying in vain to control her hair that seemed to be even more unruly than usual this morning. She twisted it into a knot on the back of her head and secured it with a clip, but a few stray tendrils stuck out all over.

She turned to him, a pale blush coloring her cheeks. "Harry, I meant to ask you, erm...how did I get into your bed last night...undressed?"

It was Harry's turn to blush. "Well, I woke up about halfway through the night and carried you to bed. You were sleeping so soundly I didn't have the heart to wake you and send you home. And I used a spell to change you into my pajama top, which looks much better on you than me, by the way," Harry grinned. Hermione blushed a becoming shade of pink. "And I didn't peek. Well, not much anyway." This time Harry's grin lit his whole face.

"I'll just bet," Hermione snorted. She moved towards the door where he stood. "I'll let you get dressed."

Hermione paused at the door, suddenly feeling a bit shy and awkward, which was strange considering she and Harry had just spent the morning in his kitchen together, clad only in his pajamas. There had been that awkward moment at first, but that had quickly passed and it had felt like all the other times she and Harry had been together-comfortable and right. But this romantic turn in their relationship was going to take some getting used to. Not that she was unhappy about it, quite the contrary. She'd never been happier than last night when Harry had said he wanted a relationship with her. It was just going to be a bit strange establishing the new ground rules.

"Harry, would you prefer it if I go home or would you like to spend the day with me?" she asked, tentatively.

Harry walked over to where Hermione stood in the doorway, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her to him, like he had been doing that for ages. Although he wasn't used to physical displays of affection, it felt like the most natural thing in the world to him. Hermione placed her hands on his bare chest. "I was just thinking about that very thing while I cleaned the kitchen," Harry said. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the zoo with me? Or is that too lame?" he asked quickly, the look of an insecure little boy written all over his face. "We can do something else, if you'd rather," he added looking down at her expectantly.

Hermione remembered all too well Harry's last experience at the zoo. He'd shared with her and Ron the time that he'd gotten to go with the Dursleys, an unusual occurrence because the lady he was usually left with when his family went on outings had broken her leg. And while Harry had laughed as he recounted his cousin Dudley's reaction to the snake, she could still remember how his voice had gotten quiet as he told about his punishment when they had gotten home. His Uncle Vernon had once again locked Harry into the cupboard under the stairs.

"I'd love to go to the zoo with you, Harry. It's one of my favorite places." She felt Harry relax against her. She'd been right when she thought he'd been bracing himself for another rejection or disappointment. "Let me run home and change and you can pick me up there. Is that okay?"

Harry nodded but made no move to release her from his embrace; nor did Hermione try to move out of it. Slowly, Harry lowered his head towards hers until their lips met in a gentle caress. Neither deepened the kiss, they simply enjoyed softly exploring each other's lips for a few long minutes. By mutual consent, they ended the kiss with Harry placing a soft kiss to the tip of Hermione's nose. Taking her hand, he walked her to the door.

"I'll pick you up in about an hour. Will that give you enough time to get ready?"

"Sure, I'll see you then." She squeezed the hand she still held, then reached up and gave him a thorough kiss before turning to walk down the street.

"Good morning, Mrs. Holloway," Harry called to the old lady, who was standing on the walk across the street, her mouth gaping open. Harry grinned broadly at his nosy neighbor and went back into his flat to get ready for his day with Hermione.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

"Oh, Ron. This one's perfect." Lissa turned around in a circle, surveying the large kitchen with its ample storage space and modern appliances. Sunlight streamed in to give the pale yellow kitchen an even warmer glow. "I love everything about this house!"

"Would you like to write up a contract?" asked the realtor. "I'd be happy to take care of that for you."

"I'll just bet," Ron muttered under his breath. "Why don't you let my fiancée and me talk it over for a few minutes?"

"Of course," said the solicitous sales person. "I'll just be in the other room."

After the woman had left, Lissa turned to Ron in excitement. "This is it, Ron. This is the house I want. I know we've only looked at a couple of others, but as soon as I walked into this house I just knew it was the one for us. Some of the happiness faded from her face when she noted Ron's less than enthusiastic expression. "Don't you like it?"

"It isn't that I don't like it," he stated, taking her hand in his. "It's just that I'm not sure that we can afford it on my salary." Ron looked chagrined to have to admit that to her.

"But we have the money that Mom left me. It would more than pay for the house," Lissa began, only to be interrupted by Ron.

"I'm not living off the money your Mum left," he stated emphatically. "If I can't pay for it, then we can't have it. That's not up for debate, Melissa," Ron finished when he saw Lissa about to interject.

Lissa knew that Ron hadn't grown up with a lot of money, and he was very adamant about making his own way in the world. But when they married, what she had would become his too, and she didn't understand why he was so set against letting her use some of her inheritance to purchase a nice house for them to share.

She wanted to argue the point, she truly did. But she also understood about pride and Ron was a very proud man. She wouldn't try to undermine that by rubbing his nose in the fact that she could afford something he couldn't. They'd put her money up for the children that they planned to have like they had discussed. She'd just have to settle for a smaller house and be happy that she lived in it with the man that she loved.

"Okay, we'll keep looking. I'm sure we can find something that we both love that we can afford." She gave Ron's hand an affectionate squeeze.

Ron drew Lissa into his arms. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I wish I could afford to buy this house for you. You deserve the best. First, you had to settle for a little diamond, now I can't afford the house you want. Maybe you should reconsider marrying me." Ron looked crestfallen at the idea.

"Ronald Weasley, don't let me ever hear you say that again!" Lissa pulled back and cupped his face in her hands. "I love you. I would marry you if we had to live in a shack. I don't care about how much money you have or don't have. All I care about is that you love me."

"I do," Ron said quietly.

"I know you do." Tears glistened in Lissa's eyes. "I love you, too. And, yes, I would love to have this house and we could have it if you'd get past your stubborn pride long enough to realize that my money is yours too." Lissa shook her head and placed her finger to Ron's lips to stay his protest. "But I understand why you want to provide our home for us and that's fine with me. I really don't care where we live. If you don't want to live in London among the Muggles and would prefer to live among other wizards, I can learn to deal with that, too. I don't care where I wake up every morning as long as I wake up next to you."

Ron couldn't think of any words eloquent enough to express the love he felt for the woman standing in front of him. So he did the only thing he could think to do; he kissed her with all the love he felt in his soul, then he pulled her back into his embrace, hugging her tightly to his heart.

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The sun shone brightly and a light wind chased the few clouds that dotted the horizon across the sky. The air had that crisp autumn bite to it, but reports indicated a slight warming later in the day, so Harry and Hermione had both chosen to wear jumpers and jeans. The zoo wasn't overcrowded for a Saturday, and they were able to spend as much time as they wanted at each exhibit. They wandered from exhibit to exhibit, making various comments about the different animals that they saw. Harry commented that the hippo reminded him of his cousin Dudley, since they were both roughly the same size.

At each habitat, Hermione had to stop to read the plaques that gave all the pertinent details of each animal. Harry thought they should just look at the animals and move on to the next one. So of course, Hermione had to read out loud all the details of the different species at each exhibit. Harry tagged along obediently, trying to look put out. But in truth, this was the most fun he'd ever had on an outing in his life, not that he'd gotten to go on many.

After they'd been strolling along side by side for a while, Harry reached out and tentatively took Hermione's hand in his. She threaded her fingers through his as if she'd done it a hundred times before. Harry was finding that being with Hermione was easy and fun, not awkward at all like he'd thought it might be. It felt like they were just two best friends spending the day at the zoo together. But they were best friends who were now dating. To Harry's great surprise, he found that he was suddenly okay with that.

As they were strolling along under an ivy-covered walkway, Harry spotted a food vendor near the end of the path. It looked like he was selling popcorn, candied apples, cotton candy and the like. "Are you hungry?" Harry asked hopefully.

"I'm getting that way," Hermione replied. "But don't you think we should find a vendor who is actually selling food instead of just junk?"

Harry looked appalled at the notion, like she had just suggested he use his Firebolt for kindling. "That is food. What's wrong with cotton candy and candied apples?" he asked indignantly. "Can't we have them before we eat lunch? Please, Hermione." Harry had the most adorable smile and hopeful expression on his face that Hermione wouldn't have been able to refuse him if he'd asked her to jump off the Astronomy Tower with him.

"All right," she acquiesced. "But you'd better eat all of your lunch later on," she said in her best McGonagall voice.

Harry bought the biggest bag of cotton candy that the man had and two candied apples for them to eat later. Leading Hermione over to a bench, he sat them down with his load of goodies. He opened the bag of cotton candy and pulled off a long piece and offered it her. She reached for it but instead of handing it to her like she had assumed, he held it above her head, out of her reach.

"Harry," she grinned at him. "What are you doing?"

A mischievous grin lit his whole face. "I'm going to feed it to you." He held the piece of sugary cotton to her lips. Hermione smiled, then opened her mouth to take in the piece that he offered. The sugary substance melted on her tongue and she licked her lips to catch the stray bit that clung there. When he offered her another piece, she took his wrist in her hands and held it to her mouth, drawing not only the cotton candy into her mouth but his fingers as well. After the candy had dissolved in her mouth, she licked the remaining sweetness from Harry's fingers. Why she thought cotton candy wouldn't be a good idea, she'd never know. She'd never had so much fun eating a bag of cotton candy in all of her life. Reaching into the bag, she pulled off her own piece and offered it to Harry, who promptly caught her wrist and held it captive, licking her fingers even more thoroughly than she had his.

They were so caught up in each other, that neither one of them noticed the man who had been watching them intently fade back into the crowd.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Witches and wizards bustled busily up and down the main street in Diagon Alley. Lissa took everything in from the various magical shops to the strange magical creatures in wide-eyed wonder. As she and Ron strolled by Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Lissa looked at the brightly colored robes modeled by the life-like mannequins, dancing as if at a dress ball. When she asked Ron if they were automated to mimic dancers, he just looked at her oddly until she explained it had to do with electricity and computer circuitry. He shook his head and explained that it was much simpler than that. It was magic. Lissa sighed in resignation of all the things she had yet to learn about Ron's world.

They walked past Eeylops Owl Emporium, the Leaky Cauldron and Ollivanders. It looked like the wand shop was the last shop on the street but a glint of something shiny caught Lissa's eye. She rounded the corner and saw one more shop with a large plate glass window proclaiming Madam Zorba- Seer of the Future. A large crystal ball was the only item displayed in the window. In smaller print towards the bottom of the window in ever changing colored letters was written-Madam Zorba knows all, sees all and tells all. Lissa looked back at Ron excitedly; he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Ron, I just remembered. I had my fortune told one time back when I was in high school. I had totally forgotten what she'd told me."

"That's the best thing to do," Ron interjected.

"No, Ron. It was my senior year in high school. I was at a fair. She told me I would meet and fall in love with a tall, red haired man. Isn't that strange?" Lissa asked thoughtfully.

"Lucky coincidence, more like it," Ron told her. "Really, Lissa, divination is one of the lesser precise branches of magic. Just ask Hermione her views on the subject," he grinned.

"Be that as it may, don't you think it'd be a kick to have our futures told? Come on, Ron. It will be fun," Lissa urged, pulling on his hand, leading him towards the door.

"Well, if she's anything like Professor Trelawney, our Divination teacher at Hogwarts, then she'll probably predict death and destruction. Trelawney's favorite thing was telling Harry that he was going to die on a weekly basis."

"Poor Harry," Lissa sympathized. "That must have been awful for him."

"I think he did get annoyed with it after a while, but her predictions about Harry's death obviously never came true," Ron added with a grin.

"Let's go in anyway. She'll probably look at us; see how much in love we are and tell us we'll have a long, happy life and lots of children."

"Lissa, sweetheart, anyone who sees this Weasley red hair knows that means loads of kids."

Lissa smirked at him, then opened the door to the shop. Immediately upon entering, they were assaulted by a sickly sweet smell that was all too familiar to Ron. He felt like he'd been transported back in time, straight into the North Tower.

Lissa looked around interestedly at the assortment of books and crystal balls that littered the shop. A small woman with long black hair came out from behind the counter to greet them. She was dressed in long, flowing emerald green robes, numerous gold necklaces around her throat and several bangle bracelets adorning her wrists. When she spoke, Ron had to choke back a laugh. She had the same kind of misty voice that his Divination professor had been noted for.

"I am Madam Zorba. What may I do for you, my children?" she asked in a misty voice.

"You mean you couldn't see we were coming and what we wanted?" asked Ron sarcastically.

"Ron!" Lissa admonished.

"That's quite all right, dear. He means no harm. He just needs to be convinced of the truth that only I can see. Follow me." She led the way towards a room in the back. If possible, the smell was even more sickly sweet than in the front of the shop. There was a table in the center of the room, a large crystal ball the only thing sitting on top of it. The orb glowed with a milky white fog.

"Please be seated." She indicated the chairs on the opposite side of the table from the seat that she had taken. Ron and Lissa sat, Lissa beginning to look a bit wary; Ron more than a bit amused.

Madam Zorba extracted her wand from her robe and waved it over the crystal ball. The white fog began to swirl and glow an incandescent white.

"I see you, dear, in a white dress...a wedding gown perhaps," she began.

"There's a wild prediction for you since you're wearing an engagement ring," Ron leaned over and muttered to Lissa.

Lissa glared at Ron.

"I see a long and happy future for the two of you with lots of children," Madam Zorba predicted.

Lissa looked over at her fiancé. Ron smirked back at her.

Ron pushed back his chair. "That's nice. How much do we owe you?" But before Ron could give her any money, he noticed that Madam Zorba's eyes had become unfocused. She gazed unseeingly at the crystal ball. It looked like she was looking through it, instead of at it.

"It won't be all happiness. There are dark days ahead." Her voice had grown even more quiet and misty. "I see money." She shook her head as if this revelation confused her.

Ron leaned back towards Lissa, "Maybe I'll win that Daily Prophet Draw after all." Lissa silenced him with a look.

"It brings sadness and great pain. Oh no!" she gasped. "I see death. I see death that affects someone close to you. It's a woman. Dark hair." Suddenly the mist in the orb stopped swirling and Madam Zorba's eyes become focused on the pair in front of her once more.

"I am so sorry. I wish I had better news to impart," she said regretfully.

Ron rose, pulling a suddenly ashen faced Lissa up to stand beside him. He took some coins out of his pocket and laid them on the table. "Thanks for nothing." He led Lissa towards the door, but Madam Zorba's misty voice floated on the perfumed clouds to reach them before they could exit the door.

"What I see may not always be pleasant, but it is true."

Ron cast her a doubtful look over his shoulder as he led Lissa through the store and back out into Diagon Alley. They both took in deep breaths of fresh air, both trying to shake the gloomy feelings that the fortune teller's predictions had cast over them.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

"I don't know, Hermione. I really think it looks like Snape." Harry looked up at the vulture, which stared insolently down at him.

Hermione giggled. "Well, I think those little ones over there remind me of Lavender and Parvati," she said, pointing to a couple of small, colorful birds roosting high in a cage in the aviary.

"Why would you say that?"

"Because," Hermione answered, "they haven't stopped twittering and preening since we walked in here."

Harry laughed, put his arm around her shoulder and led her out of the bird sanctuary. "How about we go to the reptile exhibit next. I can show you where I made the glass disappear and gave that snake his freedom."

"Ooooo. The snake exhibit. I can hardly wait."

"Was that sarcasm I heard in your voice, Miss Granger?" Harry chuckled.

"It most assuredly was, Mr. Potter." Hermione squeezed his waist with the arm she had around his back.

"Harry?" Hermione came to a standstill, causing Harry's arm to drop from her shoulder.

"Hmmm?" He stood in front of her, smiling down into her upturned face.

"How are we going to handle lunch at the Weasley's tomorrow?"

"What do you mean 'handle lunch'? It's not like it's the first time we've ever eaten at Ron's family's house." Harry's expression was quizzical.

"No" she agreed. "But it is the first time we've gone there as a couple. Or would you rather we keep the change in our relationship secret for a little while?"

Harry considered her words carefully. "I hadn't thought of that. Do you think we should? Keep us a secret, I mean?"

Worrying her bottom lip, Hermione sighed. "I've been thinking about it since we got that owl from Ron this morning asking us to come. I think he and Lissa really need us there for moral support. You know how nervous she was about meeting us last night. I can only imagine how she must feel at the prospect of meeting all of Ron's family. It's not like it's just his mum and dad. It's the whole Weasley clan."

"Fred and George." Harry shook his head.

"Poor Lissa," Hermione sympathized.

"So, you think we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves by revealing that we're seeing each other?" Harry concluded.

"There will be the inevitable questions when they find out."

"Oh yeah, lots of them," Harry agreed.

"Not to mention the teasing," she added.

"That goes without saying."

"So, we're agreed then. We let this be Ron and Lissa's day. And we keep our relationship to ourselves for now."

"Agreed."

Harry slipped his arms around Hermione's waist, pulling her to him. "That means I can't do this, right?" Reaching down, he gave her a long, thorough kiss.

"Uh, right," she said breathlessly when Harry finally let her come up for air. "I think that would be a dead giveaway."

"Then I guess I'll just have to get all my kisses in today." Harry lowered his head to kiss her again.

Hermione stopped him with a hand to the middle of his chest. "Harry, we're standing out in the middle of the zoo."

"Didn't hear you protesting too loudly a minute ago. How about we go back to my flat, then?" he grinned down at her.

"I thought we were going to see the snakes?" she reminded him.

"I can think of much more interesting things to do at my flat and it doesn't include looking at any snakes. Well..." Harry grinned broadly at her, then winked.

"Harry Potter!" Hermione exclaimed in a tone of mock outrage.

"What? I didn't mean anything by that. I was just thinking I'd pull out that old broomstick servicing kit you got me and you could help polish my broomstick." Harry painted an innocent expression across his features.

"Harry!" Hermione blushed scarlet.

Harry couldn't keep the innocent expression in place. His face split with a broad grin and he let out a loud laugh.

"You know, Hermione. This dating you business might be fun after all."

As the blush slowly faded from her cheeks, Hermione muttered, "You're going to pay for that, Harry." She turned and started walking quickly towards the entrance to the zoo.

"Promises, promises," Harry called to her rapidly retreating back.

Hermione stopped, turned and cast him a sultry smile over her shoulder. "Uh huh."

She resumed walking toward the exit.

Harry stood there, stunned for a second, his mouth hanging slightly agape. Yep. Dating Hermione was definitely going to be interesting, Harry thought, hurrying after Hermione's rapidly vanishing form.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

The first thing Lissa noticed when she woke the next morning was that she was nestled back against Ron like a spoon resting against its mate in a drawer. Sometime during the night, she must have put her gown back on, although the hem was currently situated around her waist; her bare legs rested against Ron's pajama clad ones. She shifted slightly in his arms, only to have him tighten his arms around her waist, refusing to let her go. Lissa cuddled back against him and smiled.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered in her ear, causing her smile to widen.

"Good morning, yourself." She turned in his arms and lay cuddled facing him. "Was last night a dream or did we really...?" she trailed off, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

"We really..." Ron grinned broadly at her. "Twice."

Lissa buried her hot face against Ron's bare chest. Chuckling, Ron kissed the crown of her head. "About what you said yesterday, you're right. My parents will take one look at you and know exactly what we did all night." Lissa blushed scarlet. Ron hugged her tighter to him and grinned. "As much as I'd like to make the third time the charm, we really need to get up and get ready to go to the Burrow," he said reluctantly. "I'll take the shower first. You can stay in bed a bit longer." He kissed her quickly, threw back the covers and got out of bed.

Lissa watched his retreating figure until he shut the bathroom door behind him. Moments later, she heard the running water and Ron's off key whistling filling the chill morning air. If the whole Weasley clan can tell I've spent the night making love with Ron, so be it, she thought. She turned back over and cuddled under the covers, a smile of contentment lighting her face.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

'This is starting to become a habit," Hermione lounged against the kitchen doorframe as Harry made breakfast. He grinned back at her.

"Yes. But the kitchen doesn't look like a blast ended skrewt backfired in here this time." Harry sat two bowls of warm cereal down on the table and then went back for the toast. Hermione sat in the chair she had occupied the previous morning.

"Nor is it my fault you keep falling asleep on my couch," Harry added.

"You make such a good pillow," Hermione replied with a smile. "Besides, I wasn't the one who suggested the Muggle movie marathon."

Harry sat himself opposite her. "Well, you shot down my other idea."

Looking down into her bowl of porridge, Hermione didn't speak for a few moments. Finally, she looked up at him. "Harry, it's not as if I didn't want to make love to you. I just now that we are actually together..."

Harry shook his head, interrupting her. "Hermione, sweetheart, I was kidding. Neither one of us is ready to take that step. I know that. We're still getting used to the ground rules of this dating thing. Neither one of us is ready to complicate matters further by jumping into bed together."

Placing her spoon back into her bowl, Hermione looked down and bit her bottom lip, a sure sign she was worried or upset. Wincing at his poor choice of words, Harry scooted his chair back and motioned her over to him. She came willingly and settled herself onto his lap. He lightly looped his arms around her waist; she placed hers around his neck. "I'm sorry, Hermione. That isn't what I meant."

Resting his forehead against hers, he thought of the best way to explain. At length, he opened his eyes, his green staring determinedly into her brown. "If we'd made love the first night that we kissed, it would have been the biggest mistake of our lives." At the hurt look that sprang into her eyes, Harry shook his head, placed a light kiss on her lips and asked, "Hear me out, please?" Hermione nodded, her eyes moist with unshed tears.

"When I kissed you that first time, I felt scorched, burned beyond recognition. I'd never wanted anyone as much as I wanted you that night. And it scared me. To death. If we'd made love that first night, it would have ruined everything. I wasn't ready to feel that much that soon." He paused, "I'm still not sure I am."

Hermione's understanding smile gave him the courage to continue. "You are my best friend. That's been the one constant in my life; the one thing I can depend on. And I thought getting involved with you would screw that up for certain. So I pushed you away, denied what I was starting to feel. It was easier that way...safer. But then Eric showed an interest in you and it didn't matter that I'd set it up. I knew that if he so much as touched you, I would tear his head off." Hermione smiled through her tears. "So, I had to give it a chance. I had to give us a chance."

Hermione looked at Harry through misty eyes for long moments, all the love she felt for him shining in her eyes. Then she vocalized what he could already see. "I love you, Harry Potter."

Harry swallowed hard, tears misting his own eyes. "I know you do. And I do love you...as my best friend. But I honestly don't know if I can love you like you want me to...like you deserve to be loved. I was never taught how to love like that."

Tears coursed freely down Hermione's face now. "Do you trust me, Harry?"

"With my life."

"Then trust me to teach you how," she offered.

He nodded, then gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. Cuddling into his arms, Hermione pillowed her head on his chest, their breakfast sitting cold and forgotten on the table.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*

Molly Weasley bustled around her kitchen in the Burrow, stirring this and checking on that, trying to complete her preparations for the meal before her youngest son arrived with his new girlfriend. At least, Molly assumed he was bringing a new girlfriend. Ron had been very secretive about why he had wanted the whole family to assemble today. It wasn't always easy for the whole family to gather to have Sunday lunch since they were scattered over the globe, but this Sunday was a command performance. Ron had insisted that everyone be there.

Molly couldn't help but hope that he'd finally found a nice witch that he could settle down with. She had really thought that would be Hermione, but after they had broken up and Ron had brought home a succession of less than stellar daughter in law candidates, Molly had begun to despair that Ron would ever meet that perfect someone. Even Ginny was now happily attached, although her father and brothers were less than thrilled with her beau.

"Hi, Mum." As if summoned by her thoughts of her, Ginny walked through the kitchen door and came over to brush a kiss against her mother's cheek. "Can I help?"

"Thanks, love. You can get the silverware out and start setting the table. I thought we'd eat outside since it's a nice day and the whole family will be here."

Just as Ginny was opening a drawer, they heard a loud exclamation from the next room.

"Well Merlin, will you look at that!" exclaimed Fred. "Ron's dating a Muggle."

Family members streamed in from all over the house at Fred's loud proclamation.

"Why would you say that?" Molly asked, striding briskly into the family room.

"Because they're getting out of a car and she was driving," said George, pushing Fred out from in front of the window so he could get a better view.

"An automobile," Arthur Weasley said enthusiastically.

"Everyone, move away from the window," Molly commanded. "You don't want to scare the poor girl to death before she even gets into the house, do you?"

"Yes," added Percy. "She'll think we're undignified if she sees all of you gawking at her through the window." Reluctantly, everyone moved away, more because of Molly's stern glare than Percy's pompous proclamation. A moment later, Ron opened the door and preceded a very nervous looking young woman into the house; Harry and Hermione right behind them.

Molly noticed that Ron took the young woman's hand in his own, threading his fingers through hers and giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. He smiled down at her and then led her over to where his parents stood.

"Mum. Dad, I'd like you to meet Melissa Sullivan." He paused, "My fiancée."

"Your what?" Molly asked, a little more sharply than she'd intended.

"His fiancée, Mrs. Weasley," said Lissa firmly, extending her hand in Molly's direction. "It's such a pleasure to meet you. Ron's told me all about you and what a wonderful mother you are."

Molly clasped Lissa's hand in hers, mentally sizing up the woman who had just proclaimed herself her new daughter-in-law to be. Although Molly could see the worry in her eyes, Lissa did not look away nor did her friendly smile waver as Molly continued to stare at her. Finally, Molly smiled back and released Lissa's hand. "Well, I wish I could say that Ron's told us all about you, but he hasn't." She gave her youngest son a reproachful look. "But we'll remedy that quickly enough."

"There is one thing you should know about Lissa, Mum. She's a Muggle." Ron looked at his mother worriedly.

Molly gaze Lissa an appraising look. "So you're a Muggle?"

Lissa nodded nervously.

"I just have one question for you then?" Molly stated in a brusque tone. "Do you love my son?"

"With all my heart, Mrs. Weasley," Lissa answered without hesitation.

Molly smiled her approval. "Then it doesn't matter that you're not a witch. As long as you love my boy that's all that matters. And call me, Molly."

Lissa smiled gratefully at her, tears in her eyes.

Arthur took her hand next, smiling warmly at her. "Welcome to the family Melissa."

"Thank you and everyone calls me Lissa, Mr. Weasley."

"All right, but you must call me Arthur. And do you think it would be possible for me to have a look at that car after we eat?"

"Of course you may. I'll even let you drive it, if you'd like," she offered. Ron had told her about his father's fascination with all things Muggle. Arthur smiled broadly at her then looked at her quizzically as music suddenly started playing from the vicinity of her purse.

Lissa blushed, then reached hurriedly into her purse to retrieve her mobile phone, which she hastily turned off. "I'm sorry about that. I meant to turn it off."

"Is that one of those Muggle take along phones?" Arthur asked, intrigued. He tried to get a look at it before Lissa could stuff it back into her purse.

"Yes, it is. Would you like to see it?" Lissa asked, holding the phone out to Ron's father.

Arthur took the slim phone and began turning it over and over in his hands. He then started punching the various buttons, a smile lighting his face like a child's at Christmas.

"I think you just made a friend for life," Ron leaned in close to Lissa, grinning at her. "Now that you've meet the parents, let you me introduce you to the rest of the lot. This is Bill; he's the oldest. Then Charlie."

"You're the one who works with the dragons?" Lissa asked tentatively, not sure she remembered correctly the Weasley family history lesson that Ron had given her.

"That would be me," Charlie agreed.

Ron continued the introductions. "And next we have Percy and his wife Penelope. Fred and his wife Angelina and George."

"Who isn't married because no one will have him," Fred added.

George ignored his twin and held out his hand to Lissa. "Well, I think that's about to change. Want to run off with me, beautiful?" George lifted Lissa's hand to his lips and kissed it gallantly.

Ron scowled. "Not bloody likely."

Giggling, Lissa took her hand from George's and slipped it back into the crook of Ron's arm. "Sorry, maybe if I'd met you first," she said apologetically in her soft Southern drawl.

"You're not from around here, are you?" George grinned at her.

She smiled back at him. "No, I'm from the US. Georgia."

"What's a pretty thing like you doing with a slimy git like this?" George indicated his brother with a nod. "I'm telling you, dump this prat and we'll run off together."

Glaring daggers at his brother, Ron led Lissa away from his smirking sibling to next introduce her to a pretty redhaired young woman with big brown eyes, who was smiling broadly at her.

"This is my sister, Ginny."

Ginny greeted her warmly and then waited for Ron to introduce the tall, blond man standing beside her. When Ron failed to comply, Ginny pointedly cleared her throat and gave Ron a dirty look.

"Oh, yeah," Ron added grudgingly, "That's Gin's boyfr... That's Malfoy." Ron still couldn't bring himself to say the word boyfriend in connection with Draco Malfoy, even though his sister had been dating him for some time now.

"Draco," he drawled smoothly, inclining his head in greeting. "It's pleasure to meet you."

Ron grinned down at Lissa. "That's it, the whole motley crew. Well that is except for all the nieces and nephews, and I assume they must be outside playing."

"Ready to pack your bags and fly back to the States?" Fred asked at Lissa's overwhelmed look.

"No, not at all. I've been looking forward to meeting Ron's family. I'm just wondering how I'll ever keep everyone straight."

"Stay close to me," Hermione grinned at her, walking up to stand beside Lissa. "I'll help you out."

"Now that the formalities are over, why don't all of you go on out to where the tables are set up? I'll have lunch on the table shortly," Molly requested.

"May I help you?" Lissa offered.

Molly smiled warmly at her, pleased that she would offer. "No, dear, you go on out with Ron and the others. You're our special guest today. You'll be an official part of the family soon enough. Today Fred and George can help."

"Mum," they protested in unison.

The quelling look that Molly shot them had them both shuffling off to the kitchen hurriedly to work on putting the food on the outside tables.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^*

"Harry!" Hermione protested half-heartedly as he pulled her behind the Burrow into the gardens, out of sight of the house and family milling about.

Harry pulled her behind a particularly tall shrub and into his waiting arms. Before Hermione could protest again, he had taken advantage of her slightly parted lips to plunder her mouth's sweetness. When he finally released her, Hermione clung to him weakly.

As he was about to claim her lips once more, she pushed back slightly against his chest. "Harry, what if someone sees us? We said we were going to keep us a secret for a while."

"I've kept my part of the deal. I haven't touched you all afternoon. But I couldn't wait any longer to have you back in my arms. Besides, Molly has Fred and George in the kitchen cleaning. Ron and Lissa are with Arthur checking out Lissa's car, and the others are playing with the kids beside the house. There's no one to see us."

"Well in that case..." Hermione reached her arms around Harry's neck and pulled him back down into another kiss. They kissed for several moments, oblivious to everything but lips meeting lips and heart meeting heart.

They didn't hear Ron walk up right behind them. Nor did they hear him clear his throat...several times. They were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't hear anything until Ron's uncontrolled chuckles broke through the haze of their passion, making them spring apart like two teenagers caught necking by an angry set of parents.

"I guess that the two of you worked things out after we all left Friday night, huh?" Ron grinned broadly. "I've been dying to ask what happened all afternoon but Lissa wouldn't let me. So when Dad made her take him for a spin a few minutes ago, I thought I'd come find you."

"You found us," Harry began. "Ron. I...we..."

"It's okay," Ron forestalled any more explanations from Harry. "I'm happy for you, mate. For both of you. In fact, I can't think of anything better than to have my two best friends finding someone to love. I just never thought it would be each other."

"So you're okay with it then? With Harry and me dating?" Hermione asked tentatively.

Walking over to Hermione, Ron enveloped her in a warm hug. "I'm more than okay with it. I'm thrilled actually. I've been mulling over the possibility since we talked the other night after Harry kissed you." Ron released her and then clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Don't screw it up, mate. Finding someone to love is the best thing you can ever do."

"I just don't want it change our friendship," Harry said.

"It won't," Ron stated emphatically. "Nothing ever could. Now let's get back to the house before Lissa misses me and I get into trouble," he grinned.

Harry nodded and slipped his arm around Hermione's waist, looking down at her to see if she was all right with the public acknowledgement of their relationship. For someone who had not grown up with any physical displays of affection, he was finding it easier and more natural with each gesture to show affection toward Hermione. It had started yesterday when he had first offered his hand to her tentatively at the zoo and she had taken it willingly. When she slipped her arm around his waist and smiled up at him, he knew that nothing had ever felt more right or natural...the way it was supposed to be. He bent and briefly kissed the top of her head and then they followed Ron back to the Burrow.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

For the last few weeks, Harry hadn't been able to wipe the stupid grin off his face. It had been firmly painted there since dinner at the Weasley's when he and Hermione had let it be known that they were a couple. Even now, it still surprised him how easily everyone had accepted that he and Hermione had decided to date. Mrs. Weasley had hugged them both and dabbed her eyes with her apron. Ginny had been ecstatic for Hermione and had taken Harry aside and told him if he broke Hermione's heart, she'd break an extremely important part of his body. He hadn't asked her to be more specific. Fred and George were very helpful in giving him all kinds of romantic advice, which he promptly put out of his mind.

All in all, the last few weeks had been some of the happiest Harry had ever spent. He and Hermione were together constantly. It was amazing all the new things he was finding out about her. One would think after knowing her for fourteen years that there wasn't much more he could discover about his best friend. But he'd never known that she was ticklish behind her right knee. He'd found that out by accident when he'd brushed some of Crookshanks hair off the back of her skirt, causing her to collapse in a fit of giggles. Nor had he known that kissing her right behind her left ear caused her to sigh in contentment. When he nibbled on the same spot...well, it was better not to allow his thoughts to turn in that direction while he was at work.

Harry was about to pick up his folder on Nappa's latest activities when a brown owl swooped in through the open window and dropped a piece of rolled up parchment on his desk. Unrolling the parchment, he read the brief message, a frown furrowing his brow as he finished. He read it once again to confirm the details.

Harry,

Have you heard from Hermione? She didn't come in to work today nor send a message

that she was sick. That's not like her.

Sabrina

Harry jotted a quick reply then sent the owl back on his way. He was just about to get his cloak and Disapparate to Hermione's when another owl flew in the window. He quickly took the note, read through it and swore savagely under his breath. Elizabeth chose that moment to walk into his office. Harry thrust the piece of parchment at her and waited impatiently for her to read the note.

Harry Potter,

We have your girlfriend. If you ever want to see her alive again, you and your partner

will meet us in the alley behind Ollivander's in Diagon Alley. Come alone and unarmed

or she will pay the price. Tonight at sunset.

The note wasn't signed but both Harry and Elizabeth knew whom it was from. Nappa.

"What are we going to do?" Elizabeth's face was pale but determined.

"Not we. Me." Harry stated firmly.

"Oh no you don't, Harry. The note says for both of us to come. I'm not going to risk Hermione's life by not going."

Harry started to protest, but Elizabeth stopped him. "Harry, you know I have a personal stake in this fight with Nappa. You know what he did to my sister. I don't want to see the same thing happen to Hermione." Elizabeth faltered a moment. "I know how much you care for her. I've never seen you happier than you've been the last couple of weeks since you've been dating her."

Elizabeth walked over to Harry and placed her hand on his arm supportively. Looking up into his troubled eyes, she promised, "We'll get her back Harry and she'll be okay."

A steely glint of determination like Elizabeth had never seen came into Harry's eyes, his jaw set as if in granite. "We've got plans to make before sunset. If he hurts her..."

Harry trailed off. He couldn't complete that sentence, not even in his mind. If anything bad happened to Hermione, it just didn't bear thinking about. It took his mind to too dark a place and he needed all his faculties intact if he wanted to get Hermione back unharmed.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Hermione sat alone in the dark, cold room. She had awoken only a short time ago, disoriented. It had taken her a few minutes to recall what had happened to her and why she was being held prisoner.

She had left her flat and started her walk to work just like every other morning. She had been about halfway there when she'd felt herself being seized from behind. One big burly arm had been clamped around her middle, binding her arms to her sides so she couldn't reach her wand; her assailant's other hand clasped over her mouth making it impossible for her to scream. Although she had struggled valiantly, he had pulled her into an alley where another man waited, his wand drawn. She had only had a moment to register that it was a strange coincidence that she was being attacked by two wizards in Muggle London before she heard the one who held her say, "Don't know what Potter sees in her" and the other had pointed his wand at her, muttered a spell and she remembered no more.

As soon as she had awoken in the dungeon room, she had immediately looked for her wand, which was missing. She then tried to find a way of escape, but the only window in the room was a small, barred one on the door and the door was locked.

She had returned to her cot where she now sat trying to formulate a plan of escape and reason out why she would have been taken in the first place. It had to have something to do with Harry, if her kidnapper's words were significant. Someone must be trying to get to Harry by using her as bait. Well, she wasn't going to sit idly by and let Harry be lured into a trap because he was concerned for her safety.

There was no doubt in her mind that Harry would come for her. That was a given. Even if all he felt for her was friendship, he still would come after her. But she knew he felt much more, though he hadn't said the words out loud. It just made her furious that someone was using her to get to Harry. She couldn't bring herself to think that it was to hurt him or worse because she couldn't bear the thought that she would be the cause of Harry being harmed.

Hermione was startled from her musings when the door to her cell opened and a tall man in a dark cloak entered the room. He entered only a few feet into the room, still standing in the shadows. She couldn't see his face clearly.

"I hope you're enjoying your stay, Miss Granger," he said in a smooth, oily voice.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?' Hermione demanded, proud of herself that her voice trembled only slightly.

"Not to worry, my dear Miss Granger, you are merely the means to an end. The end being Harry Potter's death," he said in a calm, almost bored voice. "I have you, so Potter will come to your rescue, he won't pass up the opportunity to play hero. He never has before. As for who I am, it isn't important that you know that. Suffice to say, I am someone who always gets what he wants and what I want most is Harry Potter dead."

Hermione was trembling with rage and fear. But it wasn't fear for herself, though she didn't doubt for one second that the man in front of her wouldn't hesitate to kill her if it suited his purposes. Her fear was for Harry and what this man planned to do to him.

"Harry's too smart to walk blindly into your trap." She prayed that was so, that Harry wouldn't rush headlong into danger because he feared for her safety. "And besides, stronger wizards than you have tried to kill Harry and failed. How can someone who's even afraid to show his face hope to defeat Harry Potter?" Hermione's bravado diminished with every step the cloaked wizard took towards her.

"Not many have seen my face, Miss Granger," he said softly. "Even fewer have lived to tell the tale." He stepped to within mere inches of Hermione and slowly drew back the hood of his cloak.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Elizabeth Apparated into the rapidly darkening alleyway. She noted that two burly wizards stood in front of her. One had his arm wrapped around Hermione; his wand pointed at her head. It looked that Nappa had gone for brawn over brains; she only hoped that that was the case.

"Where's Potter?" the one not holding Hermione asked.

"Harry is out of town on business. I sent him an owl, but he hasn't gotten back yet. So I decided to come by myself," Elizabeth recited her carefully prepared story.

Nappa's henchmen shot each other questioning looks. "And why should we believe you?" the one holding Hermione growled, tightening his arm around Hermione, causing her to wince.

"Because," Elizabeth began, taking slow steps towards the two wizards and Hermione, "don't you think that if Harry Potter knew you were holding his girlfriend hostage, not even a herd of wild hippogriffs could keep him away?"

The two glanced uneasily at each other. Nappa had been so sure that Harry Potter would show up to save his girlfriend with no thought to his own safety that he hadn't given them any other contingency plan. Their task was to kill Potter, his partner and the girlfriend. But a key player was missing from the stage and the two minions now stood there like actors frozen in the spotlight having forgotten their most important lines.

Elizabeth knew that it was now or never. She gave the prearranged signal and Harry Apparated in behind them.

"Looking for me, you slimy gits?" Harry asked nonchalantly.

The two spun around to stare at Harry, an evil grin splitting the face of the one that held Hermione. "Now this is more like it. Potter come to rescue his ladylove. Don't know what you see in her, she's not much to look at. Though the body's not bad." He moved his hand suggestively down the front of Hermione's body. But that was enough to loosen his hold slightly. It was all the opportunity that Hermione needed. She stomped on his insole, causing him to howl in pain and release her from his grip. She spun away from him, taking several steps forward. Harry was so anxious to reach her that he momentarily forgot that Nappa's other minion stood only mere feet away. He started toward Hermione, but a flash of movement caught his eye.

Everything shifted into slow motion; it was as if someone had pushed the slow advance button on one of those Muggle VCR's. Harry saw Nappa's other minion pull out his wand, point it directly at Hermione and shout a curse. Harry would never forget the look that crossed Hermione's face as long as he lived. At first, a look of surprise widened her eyes, then one of sheer terror replaced it. Hermione reached for her wand, but it wasn't there. All she could do was stand there and wait for the inevitable. She glanced wildly around until her gaze met Harry's. For the briefest of seconds, their eyes met and held. Then Harry watched as she slowly crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"Nooooooo," he heard someone scream and realized only in the dark recesses of his mind that it had been himself.

And then, suddenly, the action around him seemed to shift back into normal time. Harry saw Elizabeth disarm the villain closest to her with a shouted "ACCIO WAND," then she quickly stunned him. Harry rushed the wizard who had taken down Hermione. He didn't even stop to contemplate using a stunning charm on him, so great was his rage at what the wizard had done to her. When Harry reached him, he grabbed him by the robes and knocked him to the ground with one swift punch. The wizard was stunned enough that Harry could have subdued him with ease, but instead he kept pummeling the villain into the ground; the only thought making its way through the blinding haze was that he needed to hurt this man as much as he had hurt Hermione.

After subduing and restraining the wizard she had taken down, Elizabeth made her way over to Harry. Grabbing his arm on the downswing, she shouted to obtain his attention. "Harry, stop it! That's enough." But Harry didn't heed her. He just continued to beat the long unconscious wizard lying at his feet. Only when Elizabeth said a bit more quietly, "Harry. Hermione needs you," did the blinding red haze begin to lift. He looked over to where Hermione lay motionless on the ground and took off at a dead run, dropping onto his knees beside her.

Her face was deathly pale; her breathing slow and shallow; her pulse when he took it, thready and weak. An icy cold hand reached out and clenched itself around Harry's heart. He'd never been so afraid in all his life, not even when he had faced off with Voldemort in the final battle in his seventh year. She had been out of harm's way then.

Elizabeth arrived at his side and took in the situation quickly. "We've got to get her to the hospital now Harry. We don't have time to wait for the mediwizards to arrive," she said in a low, urgent voice. Harry nodded.

Carefully picking Hermione up into his arms, he cradled her gently, her head resting close to his heart. Harry drew out his wand, his hand shaking slightly. Elizabeth placed her hand on Harry's arm and by mutual, unspoken consent, they Disapparated.