A Reason To Keep Going
Hermione felt a deep ache as she held her fathers copy of The Hobbit. He used to read it to her as a child, even when she no longer needed to be read to. It was one of the traditions that she now longed for. One that she would no longer be able to have herself, but she promised that it was one she would read to her children.
The reason that she no longer would hear her beloved fathers voice was due to Bellatrix Lestrange. As she was about to Obliviate her mother and father the death eaters had attacked her home. While she was fighting she could hear her parents' pleas for help, but there were too many of them. Just as the Order of The Phoenix arrived due to the Patronus that she had sent to Kingsley, she heard the worst sound, Bellatrix sent a killing curse at both her parents. Unfortunately neither missed their mark, and her mother and father slid to the floor like puppets whose strings had been cut, never to get up again. Hermione vowed then and there that she would have her revenge.
“Hermione, are you ok?” Harry asked.
“Yeah just thinking of my mom and dad. No, I don't blame you Harry. I was always a target due to no fault of mine or yours but to my blood status. I would have fought even if we had never become friends.”
“I know but that doesn't make it any better that you have become an orphan just like me. I want to stop this war so that there will be no more orphans due to Him and his followers.” said Harry.
Hermione held up the book in her hands, “this is what i use to remind myself that no matter what happens or how hard it gets I still have a reason to fight, maybe it could also be yours.”
“What do you mean Hermione?” questioned Harry.
“I could read it to you just as my father had for me and maybe it will help you forget Him for a bit and unwind so we can start fresh tomorrow.” suggested Hermione.
“You know what that actually sounds really nice.”
They sat comfortably and Hermione started the book from the beginning, transporting them both into the world of The Hobbit, a world of friendship, action, and getting a lost home back from the one who had stolen it.
Months later they defeated Voldemort, they were exhausted, bruised, beaten, but happy. They hadn't been this happy since the reading of the book, which had given Harry the courage to keep fighting. He hadn’t told Hermione but he had been ready to just give up and run away. It had been threw something so innocent and meaningful that he could keep fighting even if just to put a smile upon his friend's face, a friend who was more like a sister to him. Maybe it would have turned into more but he liked those of his own gender. He hoped now that the war was over that he would see the smile more often instead of frowns. He wished that the nightmares that they both suffered from would lessen now. He knew they had some healing to do, and that it was a long road ahead, but he was grateful that they had each other.
However Harry’s hopes for a peaceful few months were not to be realized. Those on the winning side started a campaign to find those who escaped justice. It started with finding the death eaters, then when they captured those who had the mark they started accusing those who they assumed were sympathizers. Arresting anyone they could and drugging the truth out of them with Veritaserum, no apologies to those who were innocent. Azkaban for those who were sympathizers, even if they had never done anything to hurt others. With every arrest Harry and Hermione became even more disenchanted with the magical world. This was not what they had fought for, they fought for peace, and this was not peace.
One night Harry had a dream, there were elves and very short hairy men, and even shorter men with large hairy feet. He and Hermione were surrounded by music and happiness. They were celebrating having gotten a safe place, one which they had dreamed of for centuries. They had gotten their home back and made a new treaty with the elves, Hermione had done the last as neither side dared to argue with her. He felt happier than he ever had and felt Hermione was the same. He looked for her and found her on the dance floor laughing at something her dance partner had said. He felt his own hand be grabbed and the one who held it pull him to them, and suddenly was kissed. He seemed to know who had kissed him so he didn't struggle to get away, in fact he relaxed into the kiss, and the arms which had snaked around to hold him.
Then he awoke it took a few moments to realize the man he had seen Hermione dance with had looked a lot like Thorin Oakensheild from The Hobbit. How could that be, that was a story that he had been introduced to by the very witch who laughed so carefree in his dream. He started to wonder if he could make that happen. He felt like that was the place they should be, like they weren’t actually meant for this world. He would have to tell her about the dream and see if it was possible to make it real. He left his room after his morning routine, and found her making breakfast.
“I had an interesting dream last night,” he said. “ we were in middle earth and had found where we belonged, we were so happy. I feel like that was where we should not be here.”
“That's odd. I had the same dream last night, maybe we should look into the possibility of finding a way to get there.” Hermione said.
“Kreacher.,” Harry exclaimed.
“Yes master”
“Do you know of any books about traveling to different worlds?” Harry asked.
“Kreacher does not but maybe the goblins have ideas.”
“Thank you Kreacher that is an excellent idea.” Hermione exclaimed. “We can go after breakfast and ask.”
After eating they made their way to Gringotts. They were met with weary glances, it had been that way since after the war. They had returned to the bank to make amends for the damage caused. They explained why they had broken in and told the goblins that because they had the war had been one step closer to being won. Harry paid for the damage caused but the goblins still had reservations regarding the duo. They had talked to the goblin leader to explain what exactly they had stolen, the King had been furious that something so dark had been kept in the vaults. He thanked Harry and Hermione, this however still left doubts in the minds of the goblins as to whether or not they would repeat their actions later on and so they remained weary every time they visited the bank. Once they managed to reach a teller and ask if the Potter account manager was available, did the stares lessen. They were led to the goblin that they had asked for.
“What can we do for you today?” Krugluk asked.
“Is there a way to travel to different worlds, such as Middle Earth?” Harry asked.
“There is but, can I ask why you are looking for this information?” Krugluk questioned.
“Absolutely we had a dream where we were in Middle Earth and that was where we actually belonged, not on this one.” explained Hermione.
“We have a way but it is expensive and you have to be sure, as you can never return to this world or any other. So please be very sure and we would have to talk about all of your properties and vaults.” Krugluk said.
“We will talk about it and if we decide to do this, we will return and finalize everything.” said Hermione.
They thanked Krugluk and made their way home to talk about the things they would need for the trip. They decided to read the book again and then read the Lord of The Rings trilogy so they knew what was expected to happen in Middle Earth while they were there. As they found out that the movies had been released they bought them to watch. When watching the Hobbit movies Harry became oddly invested in Kili; he didn't know why but he felt somehow connected to him. Inside he raged when Kili died and knew that if he had been there that he could have saved him. He looked over to see Hermione crying, and he remembered in his dream that she had a dwarf of her own. When she looked over at him he knew she had the same thought, the heirs of Erebor had to be saved. They knew that they would never change their minds about coming back to this world, and that they would forever regret the choice if they didn't go.
Hermione started searching the library looking for any books on combat and healing that there may be. Then owled Flourish and Blotts about anything that they had. She remembered that the goblins were a warrior race and owled the Potter account manager if they had any books on weapons combat that they were allowed to share and if so would it be possible to buy them. Once she had the response, she went and bought every book that the goblins and bookstore had. Hermione also went to the apothecary and bought all the potion supplies, seeds for planting they had available. As she was returning home she managed to see a trunk shop and decided they needed several more, so she went inside and bought 2 multi compartment trunks. When she returned home she sorted the books and put them into one of the compartments, she did the same with the potions and supplies after putting several preservation spells on them. Over the next week she hit every apothecary that she could find, and repeated the process. In the end they had all the possible supplies they could need for potions. They then went into the muggle world and bought various undergarments and leather pants. Hermione also bought a bunch of chocolate as they didn't know if middle earth had any. Just in case she also bought a bunch of seeds to plant.
Just as they were about to return to the goblins with their answer, Andromeda, their godson's grandmother was attacked and did not survive as her wounds had been too severe, she only lived long enough to tell them where she had hidden the baby. They had heard rumors about werewolf hunters, but hadn't thought that they would attack Teddy due to the fact that unlike his father Remus Lupin, Teddy wasn't actually a werewolf. He did get a little restless around the full moon but didn’t actually change. Andromeda had them attuned to the wards that protected her home. At the first attempt to enter the property the wards had activated and alerted them, but unfortunately just as with Hermione's parents they didn't make it in time. They drove off the attackers and tore down the protections she had set for him. The six month old had been hidden in a crawl space in the attic, and had been safely hidden from the spells that had been flying. She had known they would know the moment the wards had been crossed, and knew they would take care of the only family member she had left.
Now that they had teddy they needed to do more shopping for things that he would need as he grew. As well as potion books and spell books geared for kids, basic math, writing, and magic for them to teach Teddy when he got to the appropriate ages. The potions books were so they knew what to give a sick child and the amounts for safe doses. They knew children were prone to colds and flues and wanted to be prepared for all eventualities. They also grabbed clothing of several sizes as babies grew way too fast. They knew that when they got to middle earth they would be able to pick up some toys for him to play with.
Harry decided that just before they left he would claim Hermione as his sister and blood adopt Teddy. He knew that this way they would have his life span until such time as they met the one they were to spend the rest of their lives with. As the master of death he could not be killed unless he decided to pass this inheritance on to one of his blood. He had always seen her as his sister and this was just his way of cementing that relationship.
On the day they were to leave, Harry told Hermione his plan to make her and Teddy family. She gave him a small smile and just reminded him that he had been her brother since they were 11 years old, nothing could ever have changed that. When they arrived at Gringotts they met with the goblin who helped them last time. They then told him the plan for the formal adoptions. It took only ten minutes for Harry to finally have the family he had always dreamed about. They then converted all of Harry's money into gold coin shaped disks that they could later stamp an emblem into if needed. After adding the money to the shrunken trunks in their pockets they then followed the goblin deeper underground to the room they would get sent to middle earth in. They said their goodbyes and closed their eyes.
The next time they opened them it was to a serene mountain view. They put up the tent Hermione never left the house without and settled in for the night after Hermione set up wards to keep them safe. It had been a long day, and an even longer two weeks since they started their preparations for this journey. It had been exhausting, but worth it. They barely managed to eat before going to bed. They did not know what the future would bring but were looking forward to finding out.