Hermione Granger intended to graduate at the top of her year, the wild haired Ravenclaw had few friends at school. The mildly eccentric Luna Lovegood from the year below her, Padma Patil her one time roommate and Daphne Greengrass her runes partner. She was Head girl in their final year and shared those duties with the exasperating posh boy school quidditch star and all-round heart throb to the lower year girls, Harry James Potter. As much as she could she avoided his company, he was unfailingly polite, at times even charming, but she was not going to let him add her to the list of the school’s female population that had warmed his bed over the last few years.
The rumour mill kept generating endless vapid nonsense about his love life. She was not interested in the slightest in knowing who was polishing his wand for him. It annoyed her immensely, her runes study partner, Daphne, possibly the prettiest girl in their year was in correspondence with his mother, trying to get a betrothal contract for him. She thought Daphne was made of sterner stuff. Daphne was unhappy as Harry Potter’s mundane born mother would not accept any form of contract that placed her son in an arranged marriage.
Daphne was sitting with her in the private common room that the Head Pupils had access to, she was a Prefect for the Slytherin House, and was currently having a bit of a rant at Hermione. “Who, who does he want. I wrote to Lady Potter directly, it’s a breach of protocol, but she claims not to promote the old ways, and she tells me that Harry has his heart set on someone in the school, but he has not had the opportunity to ask her out on a date, and until he is sure she is absolutely not interested he will not be dating anyone.”
“Well, that’s nonsense, he has supposedly bedded half the girls in the upper years.” Hermione huffed out in barely concealed contempt.
“That’s not really true Hermione. He dated Ginny Weasley for a year, and they split, amicably as they are still on both their House team and the School team. He hasn’t actually dated any other girls for real.”
“What about the Yule Ball, he was with everyone on the dance floor.”
“Dance floor, Hermione. Just the dance floor. He brought Luna, she was only a third year, he brought her so she could attend and walked her back to her dorm and left her at the door. You know he treats Luna like a little sister.” She turned to the book she was reading. “Didn’t he ask you for a dance?”
“I refused, he isn’t adding me to his conquests.”
“I danced with him, he was a lovely dancer, and a complete gentleman, and frankly I would have happily snogged his face off, he kissed the back of my hand and thanked me for the dance, then took my friend Tracey for a dance, that absolutely made her night, probably her year. He is so annoyingly noble, I wish he did sleep around, then we might have a chance of snagging him,”
“Snagging?”
“Snagging not shagging, becoming his girlfriend, perhaps more in time. Why do you hate him so much Hermione? What has he ever done to you? Or is it that he always betters you in Defence and Transfiguration, he is just more powerful girl. He is an absolute powerhouse magically, you cannot hate him for being able to get better marks than you in class.”
Hermione’s face pinched. “That’s not it. He is just, just so. He is too perfect. He is kind, he runs a club helping people with defence, He is noble, he basically adopted Luna, he is a sporting star. He even beat Viktor Krum, a professional, to the snitch in that bedamned competition, winning our school the cup. He is world famous, the ‘Boy who lived’ He is too good to be true, I just don’t trust him. He is from an old and wealthy family, and he should be an entitled, brash, pompous jerk. He is so annoyingly polite and humble about his life.”
“You hate him for being too nice?”
“No, I hate the way he makes me feel.” She had said it. Admitted that she felt something for Potter.
“You hate him, because you fancy him?”
Hermione was breathing in and out like a train ready to depart. “I hate him because for the first four years at this school I adored him, and he never even noticed I was alive.”
“Hermione, sweetie, He saved your life. He defeated a mountain troll as a first year, and you would not speak to him for the rest of the year. What do you expect.”
“It was his fault, he upset me.”
“I thought it was Weasley? Calling you a know-it-all, saying you had no friends.”
“He didn’t stop him did he?”
“Not immediately, he scolded him after you ran off for being tactless. The bit you missed was when he called him out about it in front of the whole school when they said there was a troll in the castle. Just before he ran to your aid, and even Professor Snape admitted he was only just in time. You know he burned Ronald Weasley as a friend publicly after that.”
“I didn’t, Weasley used to taunt me, I was very happy he didn’t return for his NEWTs,”
“He failed his OWLs, he would have had to resit his fifth year. He is the delivery boy for his brothers’ business.”
“I don’t care, he is….”
“Dreamy. Handsome? Dashing? Brave? Noble?”
“He is not perfect. No one is.”
“No Hermione, he is not. But in this castle, he is one of the very nicest boys. There are no wizards at other schools to meet in later life, everyone in Britain comes here. Neville Longbottom is just about married to Hannah Abbot, unless Susan Bones can nick him from her. Malfoy is betrothed to my sister, Blaize to some Italian heiress. Who would you prefer? McLaggan asked you out if I remember, took you to that party of Slughorn’s?”
“Euch, do not remind me, he tried to pin me against a wall and well, you know.”
“I do. Luna told me the story. Who was it who rescued you?”
“Potter and Luna.”
“Did he try anything?”
“He asked me to Hogsmead, for the next weekend. In front of his date.”
“He asked you in front of a girl he regards as his sister, and Luna calls him brother in public.”
Hermione huffed and returned to the assignment they were working on. Trying to concentrate on the uses of Sanskrit in warding.
“If the girl he is set upon turns out to be you Hermione, can you please tell him, No, quickly, so the rest of us that want to be his girlfriend, or even more, can get a look in?”
“It isn’t me. I haven’t been civil to him in two years. Why on earth would he like me, I am not even pretty.” Daphne groaned out loud and gently banged her head on the table.
Harry walked up to the private common room he was allowed as part of being head boy, it had attached bedrooms, but he slept in the Gryffindor dorm to give Granger a bit of space. She was so hostile to him, he didn’t really understand it. He had saved her from a troll in his first year, and he had felt the twang of his magic and hers. She had run away from the toilet block and steadfastly ignored him for the rest of the year. After that he had tried to get her out of his head, even dating Ginny in his sixth year, she ended the relationship, sensing he wasn’t really in it fully. They were still friends, unlike him and her brother, but Ronald was a grade one prat, so he had no regrets over that split.
He opened the door, his book bag in his other hand, he walked in and saw Granger and Greengrass at the study table. “I’ll go to the library.” He said and turned to leave the room. Well done Potter, very smooth. She will fall all over you after that display of repartee. He walked back down the corridor and eventually found a quiet corner of the library.
After the Yule break Hermione was sitting in class, listening intently as Professor Babbling introduced the new topic of Ritual Magic, only recently reintroduced onto the curriculum, and described the types of runic circles used for family magics. She for once found herself all at sea, the others in her class were all from old families, she was the only muggleborn, even Potter a half blood, had old family rituals and temples. Babbling asked her class about a typical Samain ritual and Potter described how they practiced the rite every Samain, allowing him to talk with his father, who had died the night he gained his famous scar and name. Hermione felt her carefully nurtured disdain of the boy crumble as he explained how his father and he could only ever talk for an hour a year, but how much it meant to him to be able to speak with him.
They were set the task of drawing up the required circle, and explaining the use of each of the runes and the words the rite required. Hermione looked across at Daphne, but she was talking to Theodore Nott, her new boyfriend, she had moved on. She looked around the room and her stomach fell, nerves and mild panic. Nott usually partnered with Potter. He was quietly putting his books away and chatting to the Professor. Hermione grabbed her books and stuffing them into her bag as quickly as she could she was trying to escape the room. “Miss Granger.” The Professor spoke to her.
“Professor?”
“You will need a partner for this assignment, I want you to work with Potter on this, I recommend contacting his mother by owl and visiting their manor, you should see an actual temple site and the runes in-situ over a ley line. I am familiar with the ones at Potter’s home, it is a fine example and as I am an old friend of his mother, I know she will assist you in understanding the nuances of family magic. You should ask if you may take part in the Imbolc festival if possible, it will give you great insight.”
Hermione wanted to scream, she would have to visit Potter’s Manor. Her parents were well off, they had a lovely five bedroom house in a nice part of Surrey, but it wasn’t a manor. She took a breath, reminded herself it was only for another six months and smiled, “Thank you Professor. Potter, I will talk to you after dinner in the common room if that is acceptable.”
“Please, call me Harry. Potter is my grandfather. I will see you then, and please don’t panic, I already mentioned to my mother that we would probably have to host another student this year, she will be happy to meet you. She was mundane born, like you, and always asks how you are doing in school, she will be delighted to meet you.”
Hermione felt herself flushing, “Thank you, please thank your mother for me, Potter.” She turned on her heal and stalked out of the room, keeping her head down she went to her room as quickly as she could. Lily Potter, was following her school life? Lily Potter was a legend to Hermione, she was her heroine, she had no magical family either and had been head girl, finished top of her year, and gone on to gain a double mastery in potions and charms whilst raising her son alone. She was going to meet Lily Potter. Harry Potter’s mother. “Call me Harry. Hmmpf.” She muttered to herself.
Harry exchanged a look with his mother’s friend Professor Babbling, “What did I ever do to that girl. I swear I will give it until Easter to get a civil response out of her, then I am just going to use my Head Boy spaces and ignore the huffs and stares.”
The Professor smiled, “I think she is scared of her own feelings Harry. She is a lot like Lily, she hated James, right up to the day she didn’t. I cannot give you any advice, if she doesn’t like you, that’s her decision, you will have to move on I am afraid.”
“Yeah, I know.” He dragged a hand through his hair, “Her magic just feels so right, like the other half to mine. I can’t just walk away.”
“You might have to Harry, if she starts dating someone else.” Harry nodded and picked up his bag to leave.
After the meal the pair left their respective House tables and headed to their shared common room. Harry pulled her chair out absent mindedly and was given a stare for his troubles, he ignored it. Perhaps this was a dead horse, and it was time to move on. He pulled a copy of the circle inscribed in the family temple out of his book bag and laid it on the worktable, “I made this copy for you, I have another I can use. As you can see the runes are based on Roman era symbology, my godfather’s estate has an older temple, truly Roman construction and it is very similar to this one.” He pointed to each rune in turn, and as she identified the rune, and the published meaning, he explained it’s alternate meaning, and when they finished each group explained how they interacted, and what role they played. Hermione had stopped note taking and was actively fascinated by this alternate use of common runes, and their purpose.
Harry pulled a set of notes out of his bag, “These are copies of my mum’s notes on this, it covers everything I have said, in more detail in many cases.” He glanced at his watch, “I can call my mum and check when would be good for you to pop over and visit.” He placed a small compact mirror on the table and opened it, “Lily Potter.” He said and a minute or so later, a face appeared in the mirror.
“Everything alright Harry?” she asked
“Fine thanks mum, this is,” he looked at the girl, “Miss Granger, Professor Babbling has asked me to arrange for her to visit and see the temple, Is that OK with you?”
Lily looked at her son for a moment, “Certainly, Miss Granger, are you free on Saturday. I will contact Minerva and you can floo here direct from her office. If you are free on Saturday morning?”
Hermione was slightly speechless, “Yes. Thank you Mrs. Potter. That would be brilliant.”
“Good, Minerva will tell you the time, I will see you then. Goodnight.” The mirror returned to a reflection. Harry looked at his watch, I need to fly, it’s nearly curfew. Is it OK if I leave my stuff and grab it before breakfast?”
She nodded, not really aware of what he had asked, and heard the door close behind him. She was going to meet Lily Potter. She could tolerate a morning in his rather charming presence for that. She walked into her room and got herself ready for bed,
Hermione received the note telling her to report to the Head’s office at nine am on the Saturday morning, she was surprised to arrive at the office alone, “Isn’t Potter coming?”
“No Miss Granger, why would Potter need to visit his own Temple?”
She nodded, she had just assumed he would be accompanying her, she felt slightly disappointed. The Floo swirled her away to an airy hallway in another building and she found herself fixed by an emerald gaze. Harry did indeed have his mother’s eyes. She was no taller than Hermione, once deep red hair, now turning blonde with the white hairs growing within the rest. Hermione smiled. “Miss Granger, this way please.” She spun and walked out of the room at a fair clip. Hermione almost had to jog to keep up.
They arrived at the temple site after about a ten minute walk from the house, it was surrounded by native trees and was a secluded and peaceful place. “Bathsheda suggested you come along for Imbolc. Are you interested in attending Miss Granger?” She was being quite curt and formal Hermione realised.
“I am, if that is acceptable Mrs. Potter?”
“It will require you to desist from this pathetic grudge against my son, Miss Granger. If we introduce a hostile intent within the ritual, it will twist the whole, I cannot invite someone to partake a family rite if they don’t like the person they are performing the rite with. It would be a disaster.”
Hermione’s heart sank. Lily didn’t like her. Of course she doesn’t you constantly rebuff her son’s attempts at friendship, she is going to side with him, not you. A little voice nagged at her. “I, I don’t’ have a grudge against your son, Mrs Potter. I”
“Owe him my life? Perhaps Miss Granger. Owe him an apology for being a first class bitch to him for four years?
“No, no. I just. I don’t want to be hurt, he is the alpha male in the school, and I am just me. If I let him into my heart I will be done for, he will move on to someone of his station, like Daphne or some other pureblood heiress.”
“Hermione, may I call you Hermione?” She nodded, “Harry does not have a deceitful bone in his body. He likes you, you can be his friend, you don’t have to marry him because you are polite to him. He saved you from that troll, because it was the right thing to do, did he demand a life debt of you?”
“No, sorry. A what. What is that?”
“He saved your life, if he claimed the life debt against your magic, he could demand anything of you. Anything.” Hermione’s face dropped. “Did you even thank him?”
Hermione’s head was down, she shook her head, “No, I ran away from him. I couldn’t be near him, I didn’t understand what it meant. I talked to my mum, and she said I had a crush on him, but it was all consuming, I could barely control myself. He stayed away from me until this year, and now we are Head Boy and Girl. I have to talk to him, and I don’t understand what is happening to me.”
“Well Miss. You have about two weeks to sort that out, because as you two are, neither of you can partake in the rite, if you bring negative energy our crops will be blighted, it is a celebration of spring and new beginnings.” She fixed Hermione with a look, “I will walk you back to the floo, you will be back in time for lunch.”
She walked back to the floo in a daze, she had built up the meeting with Lily Potter to be the moment she got her big break, she would be her apprentice, now she realised the truth of it. Lily was Harry’s mum. She loved Harry. Hermione treated Harry like a pariah, out of habit mostly. She did not treat Harry fairly, and she had soured any possible relationship, any chance of apprenticing with the woman she idolised, because she didn’t accept a mother would love her son above an academically excellent stranger. She thanked Lily carefully and politely, and received a curt nod in response, “Imbolc is the First of February Hermione. I would welcome any friend of Harry’s, but not the girl who makes him miserable.” Hermione stepped into McGonagall’s office, and with a polite nod to the Head jogged away to her bedroom. She sat on her bed, and reviewed her actions. She didn’t come out well. Hermione could sense the life she had worked for, that she had planned out for years turning to smoke.
She did not really understand emotion. She was logical, facts were her armour, knowledge her sword. Emotion was uncharted waters for her. As she sat analysing her actions and trying to work out what to do, she heard Harry enter the outer room. He called his mother up on the mirror he had used earlier
“Hi mum, how did it go this morning, are we all set?”
“No Harry, that girl makes you miserable, if the pair of you enter the circle, it will ruin our crops.”
“Mother. What did you say to Hermione?” he sounded exasperated.
“Oh it’s Hermione now, it was Miss Granger when you introduced her on the mirror. Is she even a friend Harry. I know you like her, does she even tolerate you?”
“It’s complicated mum, she will come around.”
“I don’t think she will Harry. I think you blew it by not dating Daphne. This Granger girl is toxic to you. Are you still sleeping in the seventh-year dorm? She gets the whole head boy, head girl apartment like a private suite. I bet you do your homework in the library? You are a soft touch Harry James Potter. Perhaps you should have left her to the troll?”
“Mother, that’s an atrocious thing to say. I could never do that. I didn’t expect her to do anything for me because I saved her, I did it because it was right. She had no friends, she has barely any now and she shuts people out. I would be a friend but I think she is scared of being betrayed. I don’t understand it, but I grew up with lots of friends.
“Harry, I am sorry, but unless you two are a LOT more cordial I cannot allow either of you in the temple for Imbolc. Sorry Harry. But that is my final word on this.”
The mirror faded to normal. Harry leaned back in his chair and gripping the top of his head in both hands, talked to the ceiling for a moment “Merlin, my mother can be a hard ass. My dad must have really loved her. How in magic’s name can I convince her to allow Hermione to visit, she will never pass Ritual Magic if she has never experienced any, Aaarrgh. Why do I even care, she hates me anyway.”
“I don’t hate you.” A quiet voice said from the door. “I am scared of you.”
Harry sat up with a start and spun to face her “Scared of me? Why. I am the one person in the whole castle who can prove I will not hurt you?”
“Not physically. I don’t understand emotion. I don’t understand feelings. You make me feel vulnerable, it scares me.”
Harry walked over to the petite girl and wrapped his arms around her back and ignoring her flinch pressed her head into his shoulder. “For the brightest witch of your generation, you can be really stupid at times Hermione Jean Granger. I would never hurt you. Can you feel how your magic is reacting to mine right now?”
She nodded her head.
“That is your magic, and my magic interacting. It happens with any two magicals, normally it’s almost imperceptible. If I hold Luna it’s nice, warm, like family. If I hold Daphne it’s nicer, sensual. When I hold you it’s all encompassing, it’s like finding a missing part of me. I cannot walk away. What does it feel like for you?”
“Overwhelming. Incredible, like my heart is being ripped out of my chest and filled with something else at the same time. Terrifying. If I accept this is real, how do I survive if it goes away?”
“It will never go away if you open your heart and allow yourself to feel it fully. I will never hurt you Hermione, I can no more hurt you than I could fly without a broom.”
“Promise?”
“Hermione, you are it for me. There will never be another.” Her face turned up to see his. Her eyes were glistening and Harry dropped his head a little and let his lips brush hers with the lightest of kisses, and another, and another, each one deeper and longer. He could feel her trembling in his arms. He could feel wet tears on his cheeks, and wondered which of them was crying the most.
“If you use me and dump me I will kill you, and then myself.”
“Never going to happen.”
“It had better not.”
“Fancy a walk into Hogsmeade after dinner?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. Move into your room, and then sit on the sofa and kiss me some more.” Harry nodded.
“Bobby.”
“Yes Master Harry Sir.”
“Can you move my stuff from the dorm into my room here.” The elf popped away.
Hermione stepped through the floo on the evening of February the first and was welcomed by Harry’s mother with a hug. “Welcome Hermione, I am sorry for being so hard on you, but, well you reminded me of me at your age. I was in total denial about Harry’s father. One of my friends called me out over it, and I basically accepted the offer of a date, and three years later had Harry. Please take longer.”
“Mrs Potter,”
“Lily, call me Lily. We are going to see a lot of each other.”
Hermione smiled, “Lily, I don’t really understand what is happening, but it feels amazing. I hated what you said, but I love what it has done. Thank you.”
“Sorry, not sorry. Come with me let’s get you changed for the ceremony.”
“What do we wear?”
“A smile.” Hermione stopped and looked panic stricken. “Joking, we wear a simple smock.” Lily grinned.
As midnight came around a huge full moon sat over the woods bathing the temple in its pale light, Harry stood opposite Hermione within the circle and Lily stood opposite Harry’s sister Rose, Sirius stood at the head of the pentagram under the moon. They each held a candle and one by one intoned the Gaelic words of the ritual before placing the candle in its allotted place. They knelt, their knees touching and as she had been instructed Hermione closed her eyes and thought of her happiest moment as Sirius intoned the words of the rite. A green-eyed face swam into her thoughts, and her mind imagined them holding children and building a family. Her heart soared and her mind ran away with her dreaming of weddings and birthdays and holidays with Harry and her three children.
She was dimly aware of a voice, “Mum, what’s happening with Harry and his girlfriend?”
“Sshh Rose, a minute, this is unprecedented”
“It’s a bond.” Sirius’s voice.
Hermione opened her eyes, she was surrounded by streamers of light in all the colours of the rainbow, and a few she didn’t think existed, Within the cocoon of light she could see Harry, her Harry, his eyes glowing with energy. The light show grew and flowed tighter to them and she passed out into blackness.
Hermione awoke in a soft bed, along side her sitting and sipping a glass of water was Harry. His mother was in a chair nearby. “Good morning sleepyhead, how do you feel today?”
Harry passed her a fresh tumbler of water and she drank a little, “Good. Really settled and comfortable. No anxiety, no worrying.” She smiled, “What happened?”
“You and Harry were married by the Goddess Brigid magically.” She smiled as Hermione’s eyes turned to saucers.
“Really, you are not messing with me again.”
“Wrist Harry.” Harry showed Hermione the Celtic knot on his left wrist, Hermione checked her own, it was identical.
“My mum will kill me.” Hermione moaned.
“No. She is fine with it. She is downstairs, come down when you are ready. She is not upset.”
Lily left the room and Harry turned to her and smiled, “I will leave you to get dressed, see you downstairs.”
She took her time to dress and in a pair of jeans and a sweat shirt she padded down the stairs in her socks. Her mother and father were sat at the table along with Lily, Rose – Harry’s younger sister, and Harry himself. Harry and her father were chatting away like they had known each other for years. Emma stood and greeted Hermione with a warm embrace. “Exciting night you had Hermione?”
She looked into her mum’s eyes, trying and failing as she always did to read her emotions, “You aren’t angry?”
“No sweetheart, Lily has explained it all and showed us a magical sort of video of the ceremony. The Gaelic god of Spring and rebirth, Brigid actually appeared and blessed you and your young man. If the gods think you are meant for each other, who am I to argue?” She kissed daughter’s cheek, and laughed a little. “Lily also said it has no legal standing, so it’s just a magical match making result. You do like him though don’t you?”
Hermione nodded, not sure of what to say.
“I have wondered when you would admit it to yourself, you have mentioned him in almost every letter about the school, whenever we talk about the school he is in there somewhere. He is always in your thoughts, you fought against your own wishes, you don’t have to control everything. You can just allow some things to be.”
Hermione blushed, “I think I was scared of losing control. I don’t understand the way he affects me. It makes me feel weak and, and something else I don’t understand, I yearn for him. Like I am hungry. I want him. When he isn’t with me, I miss him now, I get anxious. When I am with him I feel safe and warm and,…. Loved?” She shook her head, “It is nice, but it still scares me a little bit.”
“That my daughter, is being in love with someone. The happiness of their presence, the fear of losing them. With time the fear will go, I hope the happiness will remain.”
“Was it like this for you and dad?”
“You are on the spectrum Hermione, emotion is difficult for you, I didn’t doubt my feelings for you father, so the fear was never really there. We are happy, and the warmth, the love you feel, that is what we feel for each other.” She looked over her shoulder at the two men in the room, “He is a lovely young man. Take your time, he has already won your father over, and he has sworn to only go at the pace you are comfortable with. I think that’s why your dad is so happy. His little girl is still pure.” She whispered the last part.
Hermione blushed beetroot, “You discussed that?” she whispered back in a panic.
“No, but we were young once and Harry’s answers make it obvious you haven’t gone past kissing and holding each other yet.” She smiled at her daughter, “Sit, let’s have breakfast.”
Hermione took the vacant seat between Harry and his mum, opposite her own. Harry poured her a cup of tea and she gratefully sipped the scalding liquid. “Ok love?” he asked. She nodded and smiled as she felt his magic flowing around her like a warm luxurious bath.
Lily spoke up from the end of the table, “I have spoken with Minerva, she is aware of the blessing, and knows that the pair of you need to spend a few days together until your magics settle down again.”
“What about my lessons? I don’t want to fall behind.” Hermione asked.
“You will not, you can home study with me for the rest of the week, I am intrigued to see what the smartest witch of her generation is capable of.”
The week flew by for Hermione, she was amazed by the insights Lily gave her on potions and how she improved her silent casting in charms and transfiguration. Harry worked with her and when she asked him, he showed he how to cast a patronus, he talked through the spell, and telling her it needed to be from a really happy centre he verbalised “Expecto Patronum,” a huge glowing lion pounced out of his wand and after checking the room stalked back to him.
Lily had responded with a sharp intake of breath, “It’s changed Harry, it’s not Prongs anymore.”
Harry stared at the noble creature, “I don’t understand mum, it’s always Prongs.” The Lion rubbed its head against him, nuzzling into the gap between him and Hermione.
“Try it Hermione,” Lily urged, Hermione’s hand was resting on the Lion’s head and she tried, a silver mist poured out of her wand. “again. Think a happy thought, like Peter Pan.” She relaxed, she allowed herself to believe Harry loved her and tried again a Lioness jumped out of her wand, translucent compared to Harry’s lion. He caught his breath. “Well that answers that conundrum,” Lily smirked. “My Patronus became a deer to match your fathers, yours has changed to match Hermione’s. They are really nice.” She sniffed, “Goodbye Prongs,” she said softly.