Harry had felt his stomach twist as his home's defenses activated. The amount of intruders had made him severely ill as he sat in on an Auror meeting chaired by the Minister. He'd stood up and said, "My house. There's an attack."

And his body shifted, his clothes ripping away as his skin turned slate gray, ripping from unnatural muscles. Claws and taloned feet replacing his limbs as wings sprung from his back. And he disappeared with a sickeningly squishy sounding crack. The Aurors made portkeys and left to help as the Minister was forced to remain behind.

When the Aurors arrived, they were stunned by the ferocity of the beast Harry had become. Blood ran freely over the grounds as he and Gargoyles that slightly resembled him attacked and ripped the assaulting creatures apart. Aurors were forced to use the killing curse on the creatures after they found out anything else was ineffective and it still took three people per creature with the killing curse.

Finally, the creatures were all dead and Harry shifted back, shivering from the exertion. One of the Aurors placed his cloak over Harry as he led him to the house. "Someone go check on Hermione's parents."

A wizard Disapparated, following Harry's orders instantly. The man was a member of the Order as well as an Auror.

Ten of the Aurors scoured the grounds as the senior Auror guided Harry towards his house. When they opened the door, they found Hermione holding Jamie, tears streaming down her face as she crouched over Lili.

Harry dropped the cloak as he fell to his knees next to Hermione and touched Lili's neck, looking for a pulse. Harry could see where blood had stained her clothing on her stomach and the pool of blood under her along with a trail leading from the door. Tears filled his eyes as he realized Lili was dead.

Hermione didn't mean to say what she said, but she did it anyway. "If you'd been here, she'd still be alive."

Harry shuddered from the venom in her voice. He pulled the stiffening body into a hug, ignoring the coldness of the blood against his naked chest. "Lili, Lili, I'm so sorry I didn't save you."

Harry didn't think or remember what would most likely happen to her. All he could think about was that his lover was gone. He asked, "I-Is Jamie okay?"

"Yes." The venom was still there.

The Auror had opened a small mirror and contacted his people, telling them there had only been one casualty, a civilian and a cleanup crew was needed.

Harry stood and spoke in Latin. A sword, that had belonged to his father and hung on the wall, flew into his hand and Harry unsheathed it, walking outside.

He stood over one of the putrid smelling creatures and used the blade to sever the head from one of the creatures. Reaching down, he ripped the skin off the skull and pondered it for a moment, looking like a violent and nude version of Hamlet's first scene in the fifth act. The Aurors started vomiting when Harry swung the blade down, slicing off the top of the skull and dug into with his hands, searching for a specific spot. He pulled out a small hunk of the creatures brain and spoke loudly in Latin then consumed it before their disbelieving eyes. He looked around and strode toward one of the Aurors. "Give me your cloak."

He did, trying not to stare at the nearly black patches of blood and the small dabs of red blood covering his body or the small bits of brains clinging to his hand. Harry swung the cloak around him and then Disapparated.

Harry appeared in a small room in a small hut floating on a cloud above England.

Harry called out, "Thomas. I've come for you. Accept your death."

He left the room and walked through the small house, not finding the being. As he walked outside, he found the being sipping at a cup of tea, contemplating a scone on the plate in front of him.

Thomas sighed. "Alas, the game is over."

"Game? You call this a game? You've killed hundreds of PEOPLE AND YOU CALL IT A FUCKING GAME?!!" Harry nearly screamed. His anger caused the cup in Thomas' hand to shatter.

Thomas stood and turned away from Harry, watching the clouds underneath his. "Yes. Very much a game. These... creatures. They're weak and sniveling. My realm would have destroyed you all long ago had we known of you. It's truly a pity I couldn't return there. I would have led an army to rid the Existence of all of you."

Harry swung the blade in his hand but Thomas Disapparated, reappearing behind Harry. "Ah, ah, ah... how did you find me?"

"You're supposed to record the events of the Realms. Never return. Never interfere. Only watch."

"The fools. We've access to powers beyond mere ken and they want us to watch? We're gods. We can control life and death on scales these pissants can't dream of being possible. You still haven't told me how to found me."

"Sending your guardians down to attack me was foolish. I consumed their memories and found my way here."

"Alas, alas. I acted precipitously. Now I have to kill you."

Harry laughed. "You? Kill me? Dark wizards have tried and failed. I am the most powerful being you will ever face. Your godlike powers are just the beginning of what I can do."

Thomas cocked his head as he looked at the nude man in front of him. "No. You are only human."

"So are you. CRUCIO!!" the crackle of red and silver light hit the wizard before he could Disapparate. Thomas buckled to the ground, screaming in pain as nociceptors, the tissues that sent pain signals to the brain, sent their messages along the normal "fast" nerves called paleospinothalamic as well as the "slow" nerves called neospinothalami. Harry cast an anti-apparition ward as he held the curse on the creature, feeding his hate and dark side into the spell, wanting to twist and maim the creature. He dropped the curse after a few moments and watched Thomas try to stand.

The being got to his feet, weaving unsteadily. He spit out a mouthful of blood and screamed, "CRUCIUS MAJORIS!!"

Harry screamed as lighting bolts of magic raged from all around at him, striking him mostly in the hand holding the blade. The spell ended and Harry fell to his knee, throwing off the cloak. He stood back up, clutching the sword tightly though it was in a hand that was coated with layers of charred skin and screaming pain receptors.

Harry's eyes lost his overly recognizable color as the bisected design returned. A green glow suffused his body as he stared at the man, trapped on the cloud with him. "Thomas... it's just you and me. You can't escape me, Thomas. Meet your death with pride, little man. Accept your punishment. I am Death Incarnate... yours, specifically."

His voice was sibilant and hissing as he spoke. His body changed as the darkness in him was unleashed. Harry's tongue split at the tip as his skin began to roughen like the scales of a snake. After a few moments, Harry resembled a cross between Harry and Lord Voldemort after his return to power in Harry's fifth year.

Thomas spat out blood again as he looked at Harry. "What are you doing?"

"Integrating. Pulling power buried deep inside me to the surface. I hold the powers of myself, Tom Riddle, Albus Dumbledore and Siri Starr."

Thomas cocked his head, reminding Harry of a bird as he did so. "Interesting. CRUCIO!"

Harry dodged aside but the beam of light caught his ankle causing pain to rip through his system. He bit back a scream and cast his Shield, sundering the connection.

Thomas laughed and Harry was reminded of Voldemort for a moment. Harry healed himself as best he could then dropped the Shield. "Thomas. You're not strong enough. Submit and your death will be painless. You know I'm not lying. We've both died before."

"NEVER! I will never submit to your kind. My Realm was building Citadels of glass and ice while yours was scrabbling in the dirt with sticks."

Harry scowled. "And now your realm is dead. Your people went the way of the dinosaurs."

"You lie."

"No. I saw it. It's dead. They killed themselves off." Harry was telling the being the truth as he hunted him. Thomas had ducked into the house and was trying to avoid Harry until he could find a way to escape. "You're not powerful enough to shatter my spells. You-" Harry was interrupted by a boulder hurtling at him. He leapt to the side and began circling the house, taunting Thomas, destroying the walls a bit at a time.

Thomas wasn't so sure things were going to go his way after all. Harry had thrown off his most powerful spell like a duck shedding water and popping out to try the killing curse was almost suicidal. He kept moving through the house he'd created, taking secret doors and passages he'd made on whims, never thinking Harry would find him there. He'd expected to go to the surface and kill him there as his final act.

He ducked under a hole in one wall and scuttled into the next room, yelling, "My Realm is not gone. We were too powerful."

"Your powerful Realm unleashed a disease to get rid of the Muggles in it. Unfortunately, they didn't think about the fact that Muggles have ways of fighting back. They unleashed their weapons of Mass Destruction in retaliation as well as reverse engineering your people's disease. They killed everyone off. There's no one there anymore. It's a pastoral world covered by ugly scraps of broken down cities and slowly dying from too much oxygen." Harry grinned evilly as he said it.

He saw Thomas duck past a wall and yelled, "ACCIO!"

Thomas flew through the air and then bounce away from Harry as he deflected him. He rolled on the ground for a few moments before wearily getting to his feet. Thomas muttered, "Enervate," sending a much needed burst of energy into his system.

Harry smirked and swung the sword in arcs, showing off skills he'd spent five years honing after he'd had the knowledge implanted within his mind and muscles. He sliced a tree in half, the blade passing through evenly without a nick as he walked towards Thomas, trying to bind him with a spell. Thomas shattered his concentration as he screamed an acid spell, sending a liter of Hydrofluoric acid at Harry. His Shield flickered into existence, tearing the acid into its molecular parts and passing it harmlessly back into the air. His Shield dropped and Harry yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" his palm aimed at the other Wizard. It didn't do anything, and Harry knew it wouldn't, but he'd hoped it would slow down Thomas. It did slightly as bits of his skin started to die off and his running was slowed.

Harry was enjoying toying with the man, and while he knew he shouldn't be, it was just too much fun to pass up. He thought this might have been how Voldemort felt but shrugged it off as he concentrated on his enemy. He had to slow him enough so he could remove the man's head.

Thomas scowled as bits of his body died off, slowing him down slightly. He healed himself and continued watching his opponent as he tried to place items between himself and Harry. He'd thought making trees and huge mushrooms appear on the cloud had been foolish at first but now it was quite useful.

Harry could feel the serpent skin peeling off and he was glad. Either the integration had failed or it had worked. He'd find out soon enough. He'd been warned about speeding up the combining but he'd had to do it.

Thomas ducked from shelter to shelter as he tried to hear Harry's movements. He knew now he wasn't able to win by brute magic... but if he was lucky or skilled enough, he could win that way. He conjured a sword and hoped he remembered enough from his youth to fight with a sword. It looked like Harry had practiced recently.

"Regaria can't be gone. We were too powerful," he called, trying to throw his voice.

Harry yelled back, "It is. And your father's head was the first to go on a stake after the Muggles lined him up against the wall. He screamed like a woman when they fired the first round of blanks. He shat his pants too. See the blood you come from? No honor. It's obvious, because here you are, about to die running instead of taking it like a man."

Thomas nearly leapt out to rush at him but stopped in time, knowing Harry was just trying to make him do something foolish. He knew Harry had spent time in Drakkari but who were these people he'd integrated their strength from? He'd never been part of the ones who cataloged this Realm. He'd been part of Stravarria's watching. Whoever the people were, they'd been powerful. He wondered for a moment. There was no way Potter had the knowledge Thomas had. He nearly screamed, successfully throwing his voice again, "I've slain a dragon with only one spell. Your power is no match for mine."

Harry moved towards the voice slowly, not sure if it had actually come from there. He grinned sardonically and spoke softly, "I killed a man with just my touch."

Thomas froze. He'd heard the truth in his voice. Could it be true?

Harry didn't enjoy killing. He'd seen enough death for a a dozen lifetimes. But one more and everything would be okay. He could go home to his wife and daughter and... he stopped moving for a moment, the grief hitting him like a runaway lorry. He shrugged it off and heard a scuffling sound, like metal on petrified fungi. Harry turned to that and listened intently. Breathing? Soft but breathing, yes. Did Thomas need to breathe? He wasn't sure. It was easy enough to check, though. Harry moved closer and checked his shadow, seeing Thomas couldn't tell where he was if he was behind the Fungi.. The stalk was too thick to drive the blade through even if it weren't petrified and too high to leap over.

Harry dived and swung his blade, hoping to catch him at the knees but Thomas' sword successfully deflected his, giving the man a moment to counter attack as Harry rolled and tried to regain his feet. Thomas didn't try to attack though, too surprised by Harry finding him. He regained his composure as he stepped into a ready stance and said, semi-confidently, "You can't kill me."

"If I can see it, I can hit it. if I can hit it, I can kill it." Harry said with no inflection.

A wicked grin split his face as he brought his blade up, an early American Marine officer's blade with one of his relatives names engraved on it. Harry's family was decidedly British except for one, a former American Muggle born wizard that had moved to Britain in 1843 and married one of Harry's relatives who then had a daughter that married a male Potter. The blade had come down to him that way.

Thomas swung, his skills still evident though it had been thousands of years since he'd last held a blade. Harry caught it just above the Quillion and almost laughed as it slid off with an almost musical sound. Harry returned the swing, catching his sword directly in between the foible and the forte and heard something wrong with his enemy's blade. He was sure one more hit and Thomas would be disarmed.

Thomas hadn't heard the sound his blade had made but he'd felt something wrong. He was nervous and sweating as he swung again, trying to slash at Harry's eyes. Harry brought his sword up, catching the tip in Thomas' Quillion. Harry acted immediately and drove the blade forward, slicing a deep wound into Thomas' arm as he twisted, pulling the blade out of his enemy's hands. He swung his arm right and the blade went flying, embedding itself in a tree. Though no blood came out, Thomas grabbed at the wound.

Thomas looked shocked as Harry spun and brought the sword back around in an overhand strike. The blade, magically fortified and enhanced, sliced through Thomas' neck, and his head arced upwards as Harry's blade followed it, separating his lower jaw from the skull. His body fell to it's knees then to the ground as Harry stood, panting, watching the skull tumble through the air, slinging black, almost powdered, blood through the air.

Harry fell to his knees, retching. The stench of the blood and fouled clothing was disgusting him. He crawled away, casting flame spells at everything and was even more disgusted by the scent of Thomas' burning flesh. He conjured a handkerchief and covered his mouth, not bothered by his own nudity. Once everything had burnt to ashes, Harry collapsed the Anti-apparition ward and then dissipated the spells Thomas had used to make the cloud a place of refuge.

Harry fell through the air grinning for a moment. He shifted and then flew leisurely home. When he defeated Thomas, he'd learned one important thing. He knew were all the bodies were of the dead. It took him a few hours but he finally found the stretch of land he owned and flew in ever widening circles, setting down on the beach.

There were a dozen witches and wizards completing a cleanup of the property as he shifted back to his human form. He conjured a set of robes and pulled them on, walking into his backyard. Harry gestured at two wizards and motioned for them to follow him. "Tell your supervisor I'm handing in my authorization." His eyes widened but he moved off to do it when Harry gestured for him to do so. He turned to the second and said, "Meeting tonight at midnight." The second Auror was Cyrano Blast, a member of the Order.

The elation from the chase and kill were gone and grief hit him like a curse as he went into the house and saw that the blood wasn't all gone. A witch was waiting for him and asked, "Mr. Potter?"

"Where's my wife?" he asked as he looked around.

"I don't know. I'm here about the young woman... she's not on the registry of Magic Users in this country."

Harry turned towards her and said, "That doesn't matter. I'll... I'll come pick her up soon."

The witch felt a cold chill as he spoke and stuttered, "B-but she's-"

Harry cut her off. "It doesn't matter."

She nodded hesitantly then Disapparated.

"Hermione? Love?"

He spun around and then went upstairs, thinking she had gone up there. When he walked into their bedroom, he found a slip of parchment on the bed. Went to my parents' with Jamie. Don't come. I don't want to see you again.

Harry's eyes widened as he turned around and saw all of her clothes were gone. He sat down on the bed, his head in his hands as he tried to understand why she'd gone. Harry stood and walked on autopilot down to the bar. He picked up a bottle of Firewhiskey and looked for a tumbler and studied it for a moment before throwing it as hard as he could at the wall.

Harry drank straight from the bottle as he slumped against the wall, not hearing the Phoenix song, tears running down his face. He didn't notice nor care what time it was. All he wanted was his bottle and his grief.

Remus was the first to arrive and Apparated directly into the ballroom, surprised the table and chairs weren't already there. He walked out of the ballroom and didn't see Harry at first.

"Harry?" he stood in the middle of the sitting room, calling his godson's name.

The bottle fell from Harry's hand, making Remus start and draw his wand as he spun around. He was stunned to see Harry in a huddle, Firewhiskey stains all down his shirt and tears on his face. He didn't know about Lili or Hermione yet.

"Harry!" Remus crouched next to the young man.

"She's gone. She's dead," Harry muttered.

Remus' face went white. "Who? Harry, where's Hermione?"

"Gone," he said, his voice breaking as he started to cry again.

"And Lili?"

Harry pointed towards the hidden door and Remus saw the bloodstains on the ground as Harry began sobbing.

The others began arriving and were stunned to see Harry huddled against the wall, a puddle of liquor next to him and Remus crouching next to him, trying to comfort the young man.

Moody and Tonks arrived, her face pale. She knew about Lili but not Hermione.

Remus took out his wand and sighed as he cast a sobriety spell. Harry grabbed at his splitting head as he moaned. The spell removed the temporary effects of alcohol and accelerated the side effects so they'd be gone within a few minutes.

After a few minutes, Harry stood and started reeling off coordinates. "Those are where the bodies are. Bring them home for their families."

Harry headed towards the bar. He wanted to be drunk. He didn't want to be anything but drunk. He pulled out a bottle of Arcerian Blackened Whiskey and didn't give a damn that there were Aurors, Hitwizards and former teachers of his in the room. Illegal booze or not, Harry just didn't want to feel.

"Accio." the bottle flew from his hands and into Professor McGonagall's. He turned and glared at her, raising his hand to summon it back when he shivered violently and collapsed, unconscious.

Remus dropped to his knees as he tried to see if Harry was okay. Molly Apparated in at just that moment and began pushing people out of the way when she realized it was Harry on the floor they were looking at. "Give him some air. Let me through."

She knelt down next to Remus, "What happened?"

"He collapsed. Move away. I'm going to carry him up to his room." Remus lifted him and carried him upstairs, trying not to curse. He'd gotten old while Harry had gotten heavy.

Molly and Tonks followed him up while the rest of the witches and wizards Disapparated, going to the locations Harry had specified.

Remus set him on the bed, not noticing the crumbled slip of parchment that flew onto the floor. Tonks picked it up and opened it, absentmindedly. Molly looked over at it as Tonks played it with it in her hands and gasped. "Give me that."

Molly grabbed the slip and read it, surprised. "Remus, Hermione left him."

Hermione was sitting in her room, watching Jamie sleep. She was trying not to think about Harry but it wasn't working all that well. She didn't have schoolwork to keep her mind off him and she hadn't heard back about the job she'd applied for yet.

Emma and Daniel were driving home from the office, discussing different reasons for Hermione to have left Harry. The only one they thought of as valid could be that either Lili and Harry had run off or Harry was cheating on both of the women. They didn't know Lili was dead yet.

"I knew it wouldn't work out. Polygamy may be common in most parts of the world but Hermione wasn't raised to think that way."

"Shush, Daniel. We'll find out what's wrong when we get home."

Emma pulled onto their street and was surprised to see Hermione's car. Normally, she Apparated to visit unless she planned to go shopping. She pulled up behind it and turned off the engine, opening the door at the same time. As she grabbed her jacket and bag, she saw Hermione moving around in her old room.

Daniel opened the front door for her and then followed her in, surprised when Molly Weasley Apparated. "Where is she?"

"Molly... what are you doing here? What's happened?"

"Harry's collapsed again. Lili's dead."

Daniel and Emma looked at each other then at Molly. "Dead? How?" she asked.

Molly didn't have time to answer. Remus appeared and glared at her. "I told you to stay. I was going to talk to them."

"I have every right-"

"No, you don't. He's not your son. You weren't friends with his parents. Molly, as much as you love the boy, I'm the closest he has to family. GO."

Molly huffed then Disapparated. Remus turned to them and said, "I don't know what happened. Harry defended the house and slaughtered a bunch of enemy creatures. Then they said he ate part of the brains of one of them then disappeared. Hermione left and Harry got home. He got drunk as hell and here we are. I'm heading back. I... I don't know what happened but... he's in for a very bad time, I think." Remus shrugged and Disapparated.

Emma looked at Daniel then headed up the stairs, her husband right behind her. She knocked on the door and it opened slowly. Hermione was sitting on the bed, rocking a pink cradle with dancing snitches on it.

"Hermione? What happened? Why did you leave Harry?"

She looked up at the and they saw the tears brimming in her eyes. "I-I don't know. I just... I just left. I can't see him right now."

Emma sat down by her and she threw herself at her mother, crying as she leaned into Emma's shoulder. "He loved her more than me. He didn't even ask me if i was o-o-okay," she sobbed.

Daniel had a disturbed, yet an I-Told-You-So, look on his face. He turned and left the room, knowing an estrogen brigade was better for this than his testosterone filled self. Hermione might see him as an enemy being male. He went downstairs and fixed himself a light drink and realized there was an owl with a letter banging at the front window.

Daniel let the bird in, expecting it to fly up the stairs but it dropped its letter at his feet and flew off. He looked around hoping no one had seen, then picked it up and closed the door, taking a sip of his scotch at the same time.

He saw it was addressed to him and opened it, wondering who would have sent him a letter. The letter inside was written on vellum so thin and soft, he could see through it. He read the short letter and didn't make any sense of it. The signature wasn't in any language he recognized and he set the letter down, telling himself to show it to Hermione later. She might be able to make something of it.

Harry lay in his bed, wracked with chills and occasionally dry heaving. He'd already emptied all his food out and now he lay in bed, sick as he'd ever been. The physician from Auror headquarters had come to see him but he couldn't find the reason for Harry's illness. He prescribed a poultice that had helped some; his throat didn't hurt as much from the heaving.

Remus and Molly were by the door, trying to be quiet.

"You didn't even talk to her? She's his wife. She should be here."

"Molly... whatever happened between them won't be fixed by her being here while he's sick. She needs her time away to think. She'll be back, I'm sure."

Molly shook her head as she looked over at Harry. He stopped shivering and went still and Remus and Molly both rushed over, frightened. His eyes were moving rapidly as he dreamt.

Hermione was feeding Jamie as she and her mother were in the kitchen.

"Hermione?"

She looked up and Emma set a plate of rice and curry in front of her. Daniel had said he wasn't hungry and she could finish off his takeaway. Hermione thanked her and adjusted Jamie as she sucked on her bottle.

"Hermione? Molly and Remus came by..."

"I don't want to talk to Harry."

"They weren't here about that. He's... he's sick and he collapsed. They think it could be really bad."

Hermione looked up, shocked then tried to wipe it off her face. Emma was glad to see she was still concerned. The marriage could be saved. If Harry got well.

Hermione tried to pretend she didn't care but she did. She wanted to be there. She closed her eyes and sang softly to Jamie.

Harry walked through the thick jungle and avoided the wet looking sand. If we was back in Drakkari, those spots would be very dangerous. He sighed. He was pretty sure he was dead. He knew he was going to come here when he died but he'd hoped it wouldn't be too soon. At least Jamie has Hermione, he thought.

He contained walking, looking for the way out. Occasionally a wild Draknar or other creature of the realm would hazard across him. The more intelligent beings would bow or make some sort of gesture while the less intelligent beings would chitter or squeak for a few moments then rush off. He hoped he wouldn't end up as an old man like he had last time. It was quite painful having it reversed.

Finally he found the portal to the Realm and wondered how he'd gotten here without coming from there. He shrugged it off and continued walking. He stopped just outside a huge door and sat down for a moment. For some reason, he was reticent about going in. Harry sighed and continued inside.

Lili smiled at him but put up her hand when he tried to approach. "You're not here yet. When I died, I came back here. You've still got a long life to live. Hermione thinks you loved me more. You have to prove you didn't."

Harry swallowed and nodded. "How?"

"I can't tell you. Now go. Wake up."

Harry nodded and turned to leave the temple.

"Harry?"

He turned around and she said, "Thanks for the memories."

Harry smiled and turned away.

Hermione saw Harry starting to waken and left the room, letting Molly know he was beginning to awake. She sighed and Disapparated. As worried as she'd been, she didn't want Harry to know she was there. As soon as he was well, she'd have the divorce papers done up.

Molly sighed as she watched the young woman Disapparate then climbed the stairs, heading to Harry's bedroom.

Hermione thanked her mother for watching Jamie and sat down with her, watching the little girl arch her back occasionally. She started grunting after a few moments and Hermione chuckled. "Is Li'l Jamie having fun? Yes you are. Yes you are."

Hermione picked her up when she began to make her sounds that preceded crying and took a bottle of formula out, making sure it was the right temperature.

Harry moaned and asked, "Hermione?"

Molly scowled and said, "She's not here, Harry."

Harry had been trying to sit up and dropped back. "She's not living here at all, is she?"

"I'm sorry, Harry."

"Water?"

Molly brought a straw to his lips and he sipped at it. "How long?"

"A little over a month. It's the sixth of September."

"Was she here? I smell her perfume," he asked hopefully.

"She was... but she said... Harry?" she almost pleaded. She didn't want to tell him.

"Tell me." his voice was devoid of emotion.

"She's going to have divorce papers drawn up. Harry, don't let her go. You two are so well together."

Harry sighed. "I don't have any intention of losing my wife," he moaned for a moment. His head was splitting. "I've just got to figure out how to prove to her I loved her more than I did Lili."

Molly started suggesting things as Harry waved his hand, glad to see he could still use his new magicks. Robes flew to him and he motioned for Molly to turn around. She blushed when she realized she'd been watching him intently and turned around, focusing on a small spot on the wall.

Harry slowly pulled the clothing on and said, "I'm decent."

Molly turned around and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Harry swayed for a moment and said, "Make some potions and find something for this headache."

Harry Disapparated and reappeared in his laboratory, a foot off the ground. He crashed to the ground and nearly screamed when he sprained his ankle. He scowled as he pulled himself up and went to the potion drawer, looking for the pain one. He took a long sip and then started gathering ingredients.

As he worked, Harry wondered wondered if he'd be able to get his wife back. As much as he cared for Lili, he'd never been in love with her. He'd only ever been in love with Hermione.

Harry stirred when the directions said stir, turned up or down heat when the instructions said so and made them all to the optimum specifications. He left the room, limping slightly, surprised to find Molly still there.

"Hermione asked me to watch Jamie while she's at work. She said you can pick her up whenever. Her father will come by to pick up anything she forgot."

Harry's face fell. He nodded after a moment and whispered, "Thanks."

He limped towards the sitting room and took off his glasses, wiping at the tears in his eyes.

Molly Disapparated, watching his back.

As soon as she was gone, Harry fell onto the couch, letting the tears flow. He sat there until his eyes dried on their own and then stood, limping back to the laboratory. He sighed as he took the potions off their burners and stared at the three he had to mix. One resembled unicorn blood and he shivered as he remembered Quirrell and Voldemort attached to him. The next potion resembled a mud puddle and Harry moved it to the center. As he watched the other two float to a few inches higher than the center one, he looked at the third one and grimaced. A putrid green. They were all perfect and all three reminded him of moments in his life that had not been good.

The two hovering cauldrons spilled into the middle one and the three colors mixed violently, orange and violet sparks spitting as the fluid settled and bubble and reduced rapidly until there was only a small amount of an orange fluid at the bottom, bubbling lightly as it thickened slightly and cooled. He tipped that into a small crystal vial and laced the top through a leather thong. He walked into his office and tipped the row of Muggle books forward, revealing the potions he had hidden away and pulled out a small vial filled with a clear liquid he laced through the thong. The orange potion had to set for twenty four hours and Harry set them both back in the cabinet, closing it. On the workbench was a small charm he'd been making for Hermione's Christmas gift. He wondered if she'd ever receive it.

Harry turned and went to his desk, sitting down in his comfortable chair as the tears come again. He knew it wasn't over yet but all the years of bottling his feelings were breaking behind his dam of self-control. He needed the release now and would need it again if he couldn't convince Hermione.

Hermione lay in bed, trying not to think about Harry. Her mum had offered to watch Jamie so Hermione could get a full night of sleep but she wasn't sleeping. All she could think about was missing Harry.

Her fingers parted her fanny lips as she began to slowly masturbate, trying to think of someone other than her husband and utterly failing.

Harry tossed and turned all night trying not to think of his wife's delicious body or how much he missed Lili. He knew there was every chance he'd see her when he died but seeing her a century from now was not a comforting thought. And never seeing his wife again was an even less comforting thought.

Harry got out of bed and went downstairs, hoping to raid the cooler. He'd already had a huge meal when Dobby had learned he'd awaken but he was still hungry. As he walked down the stairs, he was overwhelmed by the amount of mail. He'd not used the stairs until now. Harry started going through it and saw they were mainly from his fans. Somehow it had gotten out he'd been ill. Harry sighed and grabbed a slip of parchment. It seemed like he was going to have to get that publicist after all. Harry penned a quick letter and found Hedwig preening. She hooted when she saw him approach and he asked, "Wanna take a letter?"

Hedwig opened her beak, waiting for the letter. He smiled and said, "This needs to go to Mister Strine, okay?"

Hedwig took the letter and flew towards the perpetually open window. Fawkes chirruped and Harry trilled back. After a short conversation, Harry walked into the kitchen wishing Hermione and Jamie were there. He sighed and walked as quietly as he could, not wanting to wake Dobby.

As Harry walked back into the sitting room, he glanced at the nearly full bar. He set the sandwich down and poured himself a few jiggers of Firewhiskey. As he took a drink, Harry wondered where his bottles of Arcerian were. He shrugged it off and took a bite of his sandwich, watching the clock tick away. Still fifteen hours until it was done. Harry left the sandwich on the bar and walked to the library, his drink in his hand. His face fell as he looked into the almost empty library. Only a few dozen books remained and the house felt so empty without Hermione. He sighed and took a large gulp then walked back out to his sandwich, still hungry. As he took a bite, he sighed. As hungry as he was, he didn't want to eat. Harry cast a cooling spell on the sandwich and left it where it was.

Emma was feeding Jamie while Hermione ate breakfast quickly. Her mother asked, "What are you doing today?"

"I have to pick up some robes for work. They have a strict dress code. Are you sure you want to deal with her all day? I can take her with me."

"I want to watch her. Go. Buy clothes." she stopped herself from saying, See Harry, fix your marriage.

Hermione still saw it in her mother's eyes and looked down at her food. She didn't want to leave Harry but she didn't want to be in a relationship with a man who didn't love her. Hermione stirred her oatmeal, not hungry anymore. She stood and kissed Jamie's head then walked up to her room, Disapparating as soon as she closed the door.

Harry spent the morning pacing, occasionally looking at the bar and telling himself no. He wished he knew someone who was an accomplished martial artist. He wanted to fight someone who knew how to fight back. He could conjure a creature but he'd done that before and the results had been... messy. He grimaced at the mental picture and debated taking down the defenses. He'd told the snakes they were free of any obligation they might feel they had, and while most had left the grounds, a good dozen had remained behind. The gargoyles were still there and still effective. At least, the ones that had survived the attack. Six had been reduced to rubble.

Harry sighed and sat down, looking at his watch. Six more hours. The antidote would turn milky orange when it was ready and then... then he could try to salvage his marriage by letting his wife ask him whatever she wanted and he wouldn't be able to prevaricate. He sighed and tried to watch the movie on the telly. Harry found it impossible and stood up, pacing again.

Hermione saw the Weasley twins and turned, wanting to avoid Harry's business partners. She stepped into Flourish & Blotts', annoyed that she'd had to use her favorite store to avoid someone. She shouldn't have to feel like this. Harry should be the one avoiding people, she thought.

She looked around the store and decided she could at least have a look around before going to pick up her robes. She sighed as she smelled that wonderful scent of old books mingling with new and went to the Antique and Dangerous sections first.

Fred spoke to his brother, "We need to figure out a way to get them back together."

George nodded. "Without her, he'll be useless. Do you think we should try though?"

"He makes us money and he's our friend. Two reasons to help him. And there's also the fact that if their little trinity splinters, he'll be even more useless. She may have forgiven our git of a brother but she'll never forgive Harry if the divorce goes through."

George sighed. "Why I'll never get married."

"You'll never get married because you're ugly as sin," Fred laughed.

George punched his twin's arm. "You're my identical twin. If I'm ugly as sin, so are you."

Haughtily, Fred said, "I got the beauty and brains, you got the sludge from a pond for your brains and skin."

Both twins laughed as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, nodding at Tom. As they ate, they plotted.

Molly sighed as she looked at Harry and Hermione's hands on the clock. Both pointed to lost as she stared at her tea.

Hermione picked up her robes and Disapparated, reappearing in her room. She dropped the bags on her bed and sighed. She had to find a place soon, somewhere close to where she worked, she decided.

As she left her room, she heard her mother playing with Jamie and smiled slightly. She wished it was her own child but that could wait until she met someone else. She didn't want someone else's child. She wanted a child with Harry. He was perfect. She scowled. She didn't want to think about him.

The scowl left her face when she sat down next to her mother on the floor with Jamie. She picked her up as Crookshanks walked by, ignoring the baby and his owner.

Harry awoke, trying not to laugh. Nietzsche was licking his fingers clean and he picked up the dog, smiling. "do you miss her as much as I do?"

Nietzsche barked and Harry looked at his watch. The potion was done. "Okay Nietzsche, I'm going out. So behave. If you bite Dobby, he gets to bite you back. And don't bark at Fawkes or Hedwig, got it?"

Nietzsche just stared at him, panting. Harry smiled and kissed his head then set him on the ground. Nietzsche followed him to the office and barked loudly when his master disappeared. He sniffed around for a moment trying to find Harry then gave up and trotted to the kitchen to see if his dish was full.

Harry stood on the corner of Hermione's parents' street. He walked slowly, more nervous than he'd ever been before as he approached the house. He saw Daniel and Emma sitting in front of the window, watching telly.

Harry looked inside as he walked up the stone walkway and was glad to see Hermione wasn't in the sitting room. He knocked softly and heard Daniel approaching the door. Harry looked at his watch, surprised it was already after ten.

Daniel opened the door, surprised to see his son-in-law. "Harry, what are you doing here?"

"Trying to save my marriage?" Harry replied, nervously.

Emma peeked over her husband's shoulder and smiled at Harry, just as nervous.

"She's in her room reading over stuff for her new job. Daniel, why don't we go for a walk?"

He nodded and Harry smiled in thanks. He saw Jamie was still up, lying in her cradle in front of the couch and he picked her up, smiling. "Daddy missed you. He missed you lots. You been good for Aunt-," he paused and then amended, "you been good for Mommy?"

He kissed his daughter and handed her to Emma. Daniel patted his back and said, "Good luck. You made her cry enough, so if I come home and she's still crying, I'm belting you."

Harry nodded. "I promise not to duck, block, or fight back."

Emma shushed Daniel and kissed Harry's cheek. He watched them leave then stared at the steps. He pulled the leather thong off his neck and made sure he had both the potion and the antidote.

Crookshanks rubbed against his leg when he reached the top of the stairs then continued down. Harry's mouth twitched as he walked to Hermione's door and knocked.

"Come," Hermione said, expecting her mother or father to open the door.

She looked up from the files she was reading and looked at the mirror in front of her, staring in shock at her husband.

"We need to talk," he told her.

She shook her head. "No we don't. Go away."

"No."

"I'll curse you if you don't leave."

"Go ahead. I won't try to stop you."

Hermione started to reach for her wand and stopped. "You have four minutes."

He tossed the orange vial at her. "That's the antidote to this Veritaserum. Three doses. I'm taking it right now. Ask me anything you want."

She looked at him stunned as he tipped his head back and swallowed the potion, shuddering. It didn't affect the taste of other drinks or foods, but by itself, it was slightly bitter.

Hermione wasn't sure what to ask him to see if he could lie. Finally, "What are your Animagi forms?"

"Earth form Raven and Drakkari from Draknar."

"Why can you use two forms?"

"I saved a Draknar's child when lost in their forest. The Draknar bonded their magic to me and I can access it when I have to."

"Why? You said they were protectors of humans?"

"Yes. They did it because they haven't interacted with a human in over five hundred of their years. Ten thousand of ours. They had thought humans were only a fable passed down."

She forgot about the questions as she got interested in this. "But what about the humans in Drakkari?"

"The forests are many kilometers from the Citadel of Light and the Watchers never venture more than a few hundred meters from the citadel. Too busy. I was the first they'd seen in millenia."

Hermione blinked and shoved her interest in the Draknar into a deep dark hole. She had more questions. She tried to think of a question Harry would prefer to lie about. She thought of one she did not want the answer to and one Harry would never talk about. "Do you think my mum is sexually attractive?"

"Yes. If she were twenty years younger and I wasn't in love with her daughter, I could see myself pursuing her."

"Are you sexually attracted to my mum?"

"No."

"My dad?"

Harry's eyes widened as he said, "No."

Hermione stifled a giggle at his expression. She was pretty sure he was affected by the potion. As she thought about her next question, she looked at the ring on his finger. "Have you ever been with another woman? Other than sleeping with Lili?"

"No."

"Do you consider sleeping with Lili cheating?"

"Yes."

She was stunned by his answer and forgot what she was going to ask next. "H-have you ever been sexually attracted to anyone other than Lili or I?"

"Cho Chang, some of the girls in your study groups and a witch I met in Germany."

"What would you do if one of them hit on you?"

"Be flattered and tell them to go away."

She decided he was telling the truth and asked, "How did you know when to come home that day?"

"The attack?"

She nodded. "The house is linked to my aura when there's an attack. I feel sick to my stomach when the Gargoyles activate."

"W-why did you leave so fast?"

"The enemy dead might have known a way to find Thomas. They did and I used that knowledge."

"H-how?"

"By consuming the core of their memory, I was able to use a spell to find him."

"Consuming?"

"Eating it. Like warriors and hunters in Africa do to certain parts of their prey and enemies."

Hermione's face scrunched up. He ate the brain? "If you thought sleeping with Lili was cheating, why did you do it?"

"Because you said it was okay. And you were there. It was more of a group activity."

She had to give him that. "Do you think I was cheating on you with Lili?"

"Technically, yes. Though we'd both welcomed her into our bed, it still felt wrong occasionally but I pushed that to the back of my mind whenever she'd go down on you."

Hermione turned bright red. She thought and thought for a few minutes, then whispered, "Why didn't you ask if I was okay?"

"Because you looked okay and as hard as I wanted to hug you, it would have hurt Jamie. I hugged the person who wasn't holding my daughter."

Her eyes started to water and Harry had to strain to hear her when she whispered, "Did you love Lili more than you did me?"

"No. The only person I love more than you is Jamie and it's in a totally different way."

Hermione started crying and Harry crossed to her, wrapping his arms around her. She hesitated for a moment then hugged him back, sobbing loudly. She started gasping out a question as she cried. "Do-you-" sniffle, "still-love-me?"

"More than anything in the world."

She continued crying against his shoulder for half an hour then sniffling, asked, "Do-will you take me back?"

"Yes. May I have the antidote now?"

She sniffled again and handed him the orangish fluid filled vial. He drank it and then used his thumb to wipe away her tears. "So... feeling better?"

She shook her head, rapidly, dabbing at her tear streaked face with a tissue from her bedside table. He smiled gently. "Still love me?"

She nodded as she wiped her nose and then blew it, tossing the soggy tissue in her rubbish bin. She leaned forward and he met her halfway, kissing each other hungrily. Neither noticed her door was open as they took off their clothes and made passionate and noisy love.

Emma and Daniel had decided to head back after only a short time. Jamie had gotten hungry again and the two were in front of their house when Daniel pointed out, "Her light's still on."

Emma shrugged as she and Jamie watched him open the door. Daniel's face went red when they heard Harry and Hermione making love, quite loudly. Emma pumped her arm into the air and kissed Jamie's face, cooing. "Your mummy and daddy are back together. Isn't that great?"

"Yes. It's great. Come on. We'll find a store selling baby food." Daniel pushed her out the door and closed it behind them, his voice cracking slightly.

Harry kissed her chin and asked, "So, when are you moving back in? It's so empty without you two."

She smiled and started kissing his face. "After the wedding."

Harry's eyes widened until he realized what she meant. "But-"

Hermione stuck her tongue in his mouth then pulled away, her eyes widening. "My door. My parents and Jamie... where are they?"

"They went for a walk."

She looked at his watch. "It's midnight. They've got to be home and the door is wide open." Hermione's face was bright red when she realized her parents had seen them.

Harry closed his eyes and held out his hand for a moment. "One of the Range Rovers is gone and except for Crookshanks, we're the only ones here. Do you mean you won't come home yet?" he changed the subject.

She nodded and got out of bed, dragging a sheet with her. "Okay... one more time, a shower and then you have to go home." she was about to say something else when the phone rang. She rushed out, clutching the sheet to her chest and into her parents' bedroom, grabbing at the portable.

"Hello? Where are you? Oh. Yes. We're back together... no. Not until after the wedding. Love you, too. Give daddy my love,also."

Hermione carried the phone back with her and said, "They're at a hotel room. I think they heard us."

Harry shrugged. "Who hasn't?"

She stifled a giggle and dropped the sheet and portable, crawling on top of him and covering his chest with kisses and nipping at his nipples. She looked up at him and said, "One more night and then you have to go home."

He grinned wickedly. "If we're here alone, I've always wanted you on the kitchen table and counter."

Hermione's eyes widened and then she grinned. "Okay."

Harry scowled as he signed autographs, frightening pictures of himself as he slashed at the images. Ink splattered his robes but he didn't care. On average, just to keep up, he had to sign fifty images a day. Harry sighed and pushed the stack aside, ignoring Dobby as he filled envelopes. Harry was missing Hermione more than he thought possible.

"Dobby, you're okay doing this by yourself?"

Dobby nodded happily. He enjoyed doing anything Harry needed and he thanked him before walking out of the room, scooping up Nietzsche. "So, you little brat. Dobby said you knocked over that vase in the hall. It's a good thing we're wizards and that's a copy of the original in the attic. That thing's a copy of a hundred thousand Galleon vase."

Harry tapped the dog's nose, getting his finger licked in the process. Harry grinned and set Nietzsche down, heading for his office. He had some plans to drop off with the twins and carefully schooled a beaten expression onto his face. They still didn't know he and Hermione were back together. The only Weasleys who did were Molly, Arthur and Ginny. And Ginny only knew because she Apparated in at the worst time; right while Hermione and Molly were working on the wedding plans.

Harry Disapparated and Nietzsche barked at the empty air for a moment before settling down for a nap. Dimly he remembered another animal he used to play with but he hadn't seen him in a long time.

Harry stopped at the Weasleys' to see his daughter and then Disapparated, reappearing in the middle of Knockturn Alley. He stopped off at a shop and the owner greeted him diffidently, frightened to have a young wizard with two Orders of Merlin, First Class in his store as well as a multitude of other awards chronicling his fighting the Dark Arts.

Harry nodded at the store owner and then left. He'd only stopped in to make sure the man no longer acted as one of his agents.

Harry walked out of Knockturn Alley and headed towards the twins' store, looking in windows he passed to make sure the saddened expression was still there. He walked into their store and dropped the papers on their counter, nodded, and walked out.

George turned to Fred. "Should we inform him of our plan?"

"Aye, he couldn't keep his pecker up in a cat house."

"Tonight it is then, dear brother."

Their shop assistant turned around. Being as far away as possible was the best idea when the two were plotting.

Hermione sat on the edge of her bed, trying not to go insane. She'd been without Harry's touch for longer but this was the worst. The last time, she'd been away because she thought he wasn't in love with her. Now they were apart for before the wedding and she was about to go insane with an itch she wanted Harry to scratch.

There was a knock on her door and her mother poked her head in asking, "Are you ready for dinner? There's a letter from Harry for you, also."

Hermione smiled and stood rapidly. Emma grinned and pushed the door open as she turned away. Hermione followed her down, debating Disapparating to get to the letter sooner. She was glad she hadn't. Her gram was visiting and while she'd accepted the fact her granddaughter was a witch, there were some things she didn't like seeing; like laws of physics broken.

Hermione hugged her grandmother who smiled then started in on why she wasn't at home with her husband. Emma and Daniel hid smiles as Hermione gave her the reasons while feeding Jamie. Her grandmother shook her head and then began grinning as Hermione handed her Jamie. She knew the child was adopted. She just didn't know she was Harry's by another lover. Hermione didn't want to give her grandmother another heart attack.

She took Jamie upstairs and put her into her cradle, clutching the letter between her teeth. She ripped it open as soon as Jamie was asleep and settled on the bed, reading it and sighing occasionally. Harry could be... intense when he wrote about his longing for her.

Hermione set the letter down and made up her mind. She checked Jamie one more time then went downstairs, finding her mother listening to music. "Can you watch Jamie? I have to do something."

"Okay. What do you have to do?"

Hermione spoke before she thought. "My husband." Both Hermione and her mother stared at each other for a moment until Emma broke into laughter. She wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "Too much information, dear." Hermione just turned red. She had meant to say she needed to pick up some books from home she'd forgotten.

Emma turned down the music as Hermione Disapparated then went upstairs to check on Jamie herself. She smiled at the sleeping baby and scooped up Crookshanks as he tried to get into Hermione's room. She strained for a moment lifting the heavy cat and closed the door. "Planning on sucking her breath out? Bad kitty," she teased.

Crookshanks just meowed and leapt from her arms once they got to the bottom of the stairs. He stalked to the dining room and his dish of sub par food as Emma sat back down, picking up a book on the history of medical magic Hermione had given her.

"So, let's go see Harry now and tell him our plan."

Fred nodded and asked, "Did you notice Mum's humming? She was humming the wedding march. Think Aries proposed?"

"We'll have to make him understand she's our favorite little sister."

Both brothers grinned as they packed their supplies. "Should we bring the camera? For posterity's sake?"

"Aye. And some Firewhiskey. Can't plan properly without alcohol."

"Harry has a full bar."

"Probably empty. If my wife wanted a divorce, I'd have polished off my bar."

"With my help."

"True. Ready?"

"Yes. Let's go by the shop first. We'll pick up the numbers on the brooms. It might cheer him up."

Both twins Disapparated.

"Hermione?! What are you doing here?"

"I need you." She blushed slightly as she admitted it.

Harry smiled and said, "Good. I've been needing you for awhile."

Hermione started pulling at her skirt as he crossed to her, pulling his wife into his arms.

"Hey Dobby."

Both twins waved at the houseelf and then started talking with their heads together as they pulled out potions and powders, setting them on the coffee table. While they had nothing to do with the plans, the twins believed in a beautiful presentation.

An easel floated in the air and the twins nodded. Everything looked fantastic. "Let's find Harry. Think he's in his office?"

Fred looked at his watch and shook his head. "I bet he's in bed."

"After you."

"No, I insist. After you, dear brother."

"Why thank you." George headed towards the hallway and the stairs. He knocked softly and said, "He's asleep."

Fred nodded and his brother pushed the door open. Both froze at what they saw. Hermione was sitting in Harry's lap, both of them nude as she moved her hips frantically.

Harry opened his eyes and grabbed for the blanket, covering them both. "What are you doing?!"

Hermione looked at him confused, thinking he'd meant her then turned to look over her shoulder at where Harry was looking. She went bright red as the twins grinned gleefully.

"So, you two-" George started and Fred finished, "-are back together?"

Hermione nodded then hid her blushing face in Harry's shoulder.

"Well that's good. Want to hear our plans to get you two back together, anyway?"

Harry's eyes flashed as he yelled. "GET THE BLOODY HELL OUT!"

The twins winked at them and left the room with a parting shot. "Nice arse, Hermione."

Harry kissed Hermione's neck and said, "I'll be right back. Don't finish without me."

She nipped his shoulder and crawled off his lap, watching him stand. He wrapped a large comforter around himself and left the room, Disapparating downstairs. The twins were packing up their stuff when they saw him.

"How long have you two been back together?"

"About a month now. Don't tell anyone. Hermione and your mum are planning the wedding with Ginny's help. She gets to break the news."

"A month? You're a good actor. We've been thinking you were miserable. Oh, that reminds me. There's a solicitor coming to the shop tomorrow. Can you be there?"

Harry nodded suspiciously. "Why?"

"They want to use your name on their product. We said we were allowed to negotiate for you but-"

Harry sighed and nodded. "Good thing I didn't have plans for tomorrow. Now get the hell out of here."

The twins grinned and Disapparated. Harry did the same, reappearing in his bedroom as Hermione sat with a sheet covering her. She sighed and said, "I'm not really in the mood anymore."

Harry pouted and asked, "Want me to see if I can change your mind?"

She thought about it for a minute and nodded. "You can try."

Harry smiled and dropped the comforter, hopping onto the bed next to her. He kissed the nape of her neck getting a small reaction as his fingers started softly tweaking and pinching her nipples. He pulled away and whispered along her skin just enough for her to feel his hot breath but not hear the words. She shivered and could feel herself starting to melt. Harry didn't stop but continued trying everything that had ever made her feel wonderful. His fingers had worked their way down her body and were tracing ever constricting circles as they moved down her body while his lips, teeth, and tongue worked on her neck and earlobes. His other hand started rubbing her nipples one at a time until she shivered madly. Harry smiled and whispered in her ear, drawing his hot breath across her neck. "Are you ready now?"

Hermione moaned and shook her head, lying. She was enjoying Harry's ministrations too much to let him quit even if he'd be making love to her. Harry's finger dipped into her and he whispered, "Feels like you are to me."

Hermione moaned, "Don't stop."

Harry smiled and continued.

Thousands of witches and wizards stood on the grounds of Hogwarts as more and more arrived. Though it was the middle of summer, green, gold and white snow fell among them as they spoke in small groups. Everyone who was anyone was here for this wedding, the wedding of a century. Though they were truly married in a Muggle ceremony, this one, this Wizarding ceremony would make it impossible for them to ever be separate. They'd be linked forever after this ceremony.

The royal purple carpet had the Potter Family crest embroidered up and down it and a young Gryffindor student, one of only a few students who'd been invited to attend, was looking for someone. She saw some vibrant red hair and thought that they might know where he was.

The young girl pulled on Ronald Weasley's sleeve and he looked down at her, trying to remember where he knew her from.

"It's me, Emily. Where's Harry?"

"Talking to my dad and the Minister by the front doors."

Emily smiled brightly and thanked him before running off to find Harry.

Hermione, Molly, Emma, and Ginny were all in a small room off the Great Hall as they made sure her makeup, hair, nails, robes and shoes were perfect. Molly smiled and said, "I'm sure you're looking forward to tonight."

Ginny stifled a giggle as Hermione said, "Well it's not like I could just go and see my husband over the past few months."

Ginny giggled and nodded again. "Not since we made sure you were allergic to him."

Hermione scowled and asked hesitantly, "Whatever you did, it's not going to affect me anymore, is it?"

Ginny shook her head as Molly whispered to Emma exactly what they'd done to her daughter. Hermione had been completely unable to find the cure to what they'd used and she'd been forced to stay away from Harry or suffer massive hives and a horrible case of gas and hiccoughs if she did go near him. She'd decided to stay away and talk over their enchanted mirrors or the floo.

Emily tugged on Harry's robes and he turned around, hugging her quickly. "Where are your parents, Em?"

"Watching Professor Flitwick make the snow. I'm supposed to give you this." she handed him a small envelope with his name on it. Harry thanked her and slid it into his pocket after she left as he turned back to his conversation with Arthur and Auric.

Hermione touched the portkey and was transferred to the coach she would arrive in as the Weasley women and her mum went to join the rest of the guests. The people began taking their seats as gold and scarlet fireworks lit up the sky.

Harry sighed as he took his place. This was way too grandiose for him. But it was what the Ministry and Hermione had decided on.

Hermione felt the coach lurch into motion and adjusted her robes one last time.

It arrived at the school and she got out as the snow swept itself off the carpet so it wouldn't ruin her ornate robes. She walked calmly up the aisle, nodding at the people she recognized, and tried not to show any dismay that she'd passed thirty rows of people and she still wasn't a quarter of the way down the aisle.

Finally, she reached Harry and the ceremony began.

The End.

For now...

Author Notes: I'm currently working on the two sequels to this one (the second is finished, the third mostly so), a novella called Games People Play (abandoned) and my hopefully debut novel Thrace Down (working title) into the world of actually making money off writing. I'm also in the beginning stages of working on a movie script (Abandoned, I found it derivative), one comic script for DC (converted to novella for now) and a comic script for Dark Horse (converted to webcomic, looking for artist (Fine Upstanding Pirates)).

This story will be available in PDF format soon, possibly. Ta.

The sequels will be coming soon, though I need to finish Empire Interrupted and my Naruto story first.