Hermione watched Harry snap the wand and uncaringly toss it over the side of the bridge. She noted the small splinters hanging, and perhaps even a wisp of mist signifying the loss of power but that may have been her imagination. To many the first thought would be relief, or a less ethical person would think a waste, but Hermione saw it as a sign. A reminder not of the wand itself, despite its late relevance, but the mutual feeling of what this war could've done to them. They were damaged. They did feel empty. They would certainly need fixing, and it won't be an easy repair. But they were not BROKEN.

Some may have died, but they avoided the grief and the hurt left behind, and those people left behind will seek out the ones who were lost. It's the searching that heals; they will never find them on their plain of existence, but as long as they are searching they are recovering.

That is something Hermione has to remind herself, to not stop searching.

The Trio wordlessly returned to the great hall. They had people to see, farewells to give and promises to make. It was going to be difficult saying goodbye, Hermione never once actually said goodbye. Not to her parents, not to Dobby, not to Fred or everyone who was lost. But especially not Tonks. 'Why didn't I' she asked herself 'I didn't know the outcomes, and there was admittedly no time to'. But that wasn't right, in a war the person who doesn't expect or acknowledge the worst case scenario is the one who is most stung. Every time someone left a room, they might never have walked back in. It was silly to say goodbye to people when you expect to be back in a couple of minutes, but you'd be feeling worse than silly if that didn't turn out to happen.

And now Hermione was going to see the bodies of people she had to say goodbye to, but it felt like waving at someone who'd already left a room. And they had in a certain extent, and the grief wasn't any less painful. The only reason Hermione was not bawling her eyes out was due to the lingering adrenaline and shellshock. She had a feeling that the tears would catch up any minute now.

The trio separated on arrival to the great hall. Harry made his way over to the professors that valiantly defended their pupils and castle. Ron made a beeline for the sea of mourning redheads. And Hermione was drawn to the bodies of Remus and…

Sirius Black.

He'd been in Azkaban for sixteen years, making multiple escape attempts to get free and protect his godson. He nearly succeeded a few years back but the fortress of Azkaban was too strongly guarded. Because of the reduced amount of dementors and a Death Eater ministry lowering the defences so that imprisoned followers could escape, they involuntarily aided Sirius' own. And whilst it didn't end with him surviving to see it, his inclusion vitally helped the light win the war.

And it reunited him with Remus, who died alongside his one true love. They have an eternity together now to make up for the sixteen years of separation. Ridiculously sad and romantic at the same time.

Hermione saw their hands, their bodies searched for each other even after death. But they didn't need to search anymore; their time of waiting is over, and they can enjoy an eternity together making up for lost time.

Hermione's hand succeeded in doing what Remus and Sirius' hands could not. She allowed it to entwine with the one she wishes to spend an eternity with, without a word or glance. That person didn't spare her any either. They didn't need to talk to know what they both were thinking, they didn't need to look at each other to know how deeply they felt in that moment.

Somewhere through the haze, Hermione heard Tonk's dry voice. "I was only eight when Sirius was arrested, I can only remember seeing his face before then three times. The last words he spoke to me before then was hello. I was a shy child, believe it or not, almost anti-social. Then I don't see his face for sixteen years, an innocent man not provided with a trial. Truthfully, I almost forgot about him. It didn't occur to me to think of him when you, Harry, Remus and everyone I saw on a daily basis was in immediate or soon-to-be danger." Tonks glanced at Hermione's bowed face, asking for assurement "was that wrong of me?"

Hermione lifted her chin and met her gaze. "A man you barely knew, absent from your life for sixteen years, who may have been dead for all you knew."

Despite her reply failing to answer the question fully, Tonks took the encouragement from them "I barely recognized him when he stumbled out of the portrait tunnel, it was only the look on Remus' face that told me all I needed to know. Then his first, and last, words to me...it haunted me, throughout the entire fight."

"What was it?" Hermione asked with concern.

Tonks squeezed Hermione's hand as she replied "hello."

"Just hello?"

Tonks smiled sadly "just like when I was eight years old. He spoke to me exactly how he spoke to me the last time I saw him. And that's what saddens me the most, because if I hadn't have been that shy, anti-social girl I would have better memories of him. I would've had better conversations with him. I would feel just as sad for his death as I do Remus'. But I don't, and that's my fault."

Hermione rested her cheek on the older girl's shoulder. "If I had been imprisoned for sixteen years, I wouldn't care if only one person thought about me and cared about me the entire time, as long as I still had their heart years later. I'm not Sirius, but I'm sure acknowledgement and recognition was the last thing on Sirius's mind when he escaped Azkaban."

Tonks nodded in agreement "Remus never spoke of him, but the way he looked at dogs, and the way he clung to any black material he could find whenever he thought he was alone. His love never wilted."

Tonks gazed down at the calm serenity visible on Remus's face and began to tear up. "All those times he kicked me up the arse, telling me how to treat the ones I love. He hadn't anyone to love him romantically for the entire time I knew him, including myself. So what could he possibly know about love? I was such a fool."

Hermione kissed Tonks cheek tenderly "you still listened, which makes you far less of a fool than you think you are."

Tonks choked on a sob. Hermione immediately swept Tonks into her arms, both girls burying their faces into bare shoulder and mangled hair. "I'm going to miss him Mione."

"I know Tonks, I know. I'll miss him too" Hermione wept back.

After a minute, they both pulled back and held each other at the waist. Their reddening eyes crinkled with a smile. They leant in simultaneously and kissed, tasting each other as if to remind each other they truly lived. Their survival wasn't a dream, and they weren't going to wake up in each others arms back at Shell Cottage.

It couldn't have been a nightmare, otherwise nobody would've survived, but it was leagues away from pleasant. That only increased their relief and gratitude, being given release after a night of fear. A happy but costly resolution that meant they could reunite properly and never part again.

Their lips separated with a light pop, both catching their breaths. Tonks rubbed her nose over Hermione's as she lightly whispered "Despite everyone we lost, and all the grief I have to deal with, just seeing you makes me happier than I've ever been. It was only last night that we laid together wondering when we'd see each other again, if we ever did."

Tonks caressed Hermione's cheek with a thumb, tracing the bone until her thumb brushed the brunettes lips. "From this day forward, you are mine. Every hour of every day, and no one can change that. I get to stay by your side whenever I want even when you don't want me there. I get to ward off all who tries to hurt you. I get to go to sleep beside you, wake up to you, enjoy the day together, go to our boring jobs and return to each others arms, then enjoy the nights however we see fit. Then we do it all again, and smile at the chance to outdo the day before. One day we'll be like Remus and Sirius are now, except we'd have paid back the debt we owe them with our continuous and unwavering love for each other. And I do love you Hermione."

Hermione replied first with wrapped arms around Tonks neck, second reply with a kiss and a final reply of words. "I love you too."

2.

Three months later

Tonks sat before the mirror, palming at her cheek. Her hand rubbed the edges of her dark bruise-like feature, touching the pointed edge knifing up to her eye. Then she dragged her finger along the mark to the rounded blunt edge tickling her jawline.

She trailed her hand from her scalp to her shoulder blades, as she corrected the slight knots and kinks in her blonde hair. Satisfied with its newfound tidiness, she swayed her cheeks from side-to-side and smiled.

Hermione approached from behind, in the vicinity of their shared bed. She swooped onto her shoulders and crossed her arms over the metamorph's collarbone. She tucked her chin on the slope of Tonk's neck and proceeded to playfully wiggle. "Hey now, who's this gorgeous stranger and what is she doing in our bedroom?"

Tonks smiled back. "Didn't you know, this room is rented by me now, the purple haired girl didn't pay?"

"Typical. So careless that girl, but now there's two strangers occupying the same room, whatever can we do?"

Tonk's free and adventurous hand groped at Hermione's thigh, causing a brief shriek of surprise. "The bed is big enough for two."

Hermione pretended to shy away. "My girlfriend wouldn't like that."

"Who cares, you know what that girlfriend can go and do."

Hermione brushed her lips on Tonk's ear as she replied huskily "she can kiss me."

Tonks quickly twisted to meet her lips. Hermione adjusted her body, stooped over Tonks and kissed her from a high angle. She felt the velvety tongue tickle at the corner of her mouth; an answer to its request was for her to part her lips and allow the tongue to slither into her mouth.

Tonks grabbed at Hermione's pajama top and pulled her round onto her lap. She quickly straddled the older witch. Tonks hands were all over her girlfriend's waist and ventured up her back, Hermione's were in her girlfriend's hair and cupping her face. Hermione lightly and slowly bounced on Tonks lap, slowing the tongue kiss down. The older girl moaned into her mouth, allowing the brunette to control the kiss.

Hermione slowed the kiss even more until their tongues stopped battling. She withdrew her tongue and then her lips. Tonks was made to stare into Hermione's eyes when their foreheads met. Hermione's eyes drifted to her right cheek, her finger stroking over the shapely smudge. She lightly kissed it and said "you're getting very comfortable with yourself now."

Tonks shrugged softly. "When you spend three months with the person who loves you unconditionally, even the most self-conscious person has a reason to."

"Oh, so you only see yourself as beautiful because I do?" Hermione enquired.

"The only person who ever has, of course." Tonk's face then contorted into confusion "should I not?"

Hermione shook her head. "You should, but not because of me. How do you expect other people to fully appreciate your beauty if you don't?"

"Maybe it's not the others who are wrong, maybe you are for-"

Hermione sharply corrected "I am NOT wrong. There is far worse out there than you, and not many better if any. There are people with ugly warts, filthy teeth and disgusting hair; they show them to the world. And it's not because they are loved, it's because they are comfortable. These people still have friends, still are very sociable people, are quite well respected, have lovers."

"Sure, but ask any of them how they see themselves and they'd call themselves hideous" Tonks countered.

"We all do. I don't think I'm as pretty as you think I am. Harry and Ron as well. So many people call me this beautiful girl and I don't see it either. But I've accepted it, not because I believe them, because I want to. The process of self-belief will work so well that eventually you'll believe it yourself."

Tonks sighed and looked up. Hermione was quick to tug her chin back down, a serious look in her eyes. "I think it's time you showed everyone who you are."

Tonks recoiled and immediately began pleading "no, not yet. Please Hermione, I'm so not ready."

"You're more ready than you're ever going to be doing things this way" Hermione told her. "I know what contempt is Tonks, I've seen it from you when names like Bellatrix, Malfoy and Pettigrew are mentioned. I saw it when you looked at yourself this way a year ago. We've lived at your mum's for three months and every night I watch you stare into that mirror with this face. Tonks, I haven't seen a single ounce of contempt in it."

Tonks was about to respond but Hermione cupped her hand over her mouth. "You believe in yourself, I know you do. So we're going to George and Angelina's engagement party, and you're going to show everyone the hidden face I've fallen for."

Hermione uncovered the older girls lips so she could kiss them. After she pulled away she stared into Tonks eyes that were filled with reluctant resignation. That satisfied Hermione well, and resulted in her escorting the blonde back to the bed. She didn't care to bang on about the issue, Tonks wasn't the sort of person to not give things a go even if they didn't turn out so good. And furthermore, this was a big step for Tonks and it was unfair to put too much pressure on her.

Tonks soon put the party to the back of her mind, as she did most things when she was snuggled up to Hermione in bed. They laid in their favourite position, for sleeping that is, the classic spoon. Tonks the back spoon and Hermione the front.

And just like every night before, Tonks stared unwaveringly at the smooth face and chocolate curls before her. She would lay and watch until she felt sleep overcome her, absorbing her girlfriends beauty. Hermione was very much aware of this. Sometimes she'd comment on it, whilst refusing to open her eyes, in fear of losing the comfort she was in. But the majority of the time Hermione would pretend to be asleep, smile inwardly at the cuteness of the girl behind her, until she actually was asleep.

Besides being in a hypnotic trance, Tonks would think about how far they've come, all the things they could've missed, how they got here. Tonks fought back to the young girl she sat in a forest with, she remembered their dynamic. Tonks was being irritaringly funny, and Hermione pretended to not like the distraction that helped pass the time. They were barely friends before then having only seen the other a couple of times, what changed so drastically that this girl became the person Tonks loved most in the world?

Acceptance.

Encouragement.

Belief.

Hermione was the one who accepted her unconditionally, better than anyone else had. She was the one who saw Tonks and decided there was no shame in her appearance. She believed in Tonks, the true Tonks.

Tonks laid behind her this night and decided that the question she wanted answering was the wrong question. The real question was how could such an amazing girl accept, encourage and believe in her from just a potion experiment in a dark forest?

Hermione could provide plenty of answers that Tonks would be skeptical of; Tonks named a few that were likely self-deprecating rather than true. No one else can answer because no one else knew the truth.

That's why she decided then and there that she was going to reveal her true self at the engagement party. In the end Tonks would do anything for Hermione, because compared to what Hermione has done for her, Tonks owed her girlfriend a huge debt.

If Hermione believed in her, she would believe in Hermione. And if Hermione says everything would be okay, then everything will be okay.

"Hermione" Tonks softly spoke into her ear.

"Mhm" she mumbled back.

"I believe you."

Hermione grunted her disagreement and said "no, you believe in you."

"I believe that you believe I believe in myself."

Hermione's laugh warmed Tonk's heart and the younger girl scooted further into Tonks. "Good.'

They then shortly fell into sleep together, with Tonks feeling more beautiful than ever before. Because she loved Hermione, THE most beautiful girl in the world. With beauty comes love, and this was love in its truest form.

THE END

AN; Well that's it, hope you enjoyed it. Personally I prefer the shorter format to my long-arsed hundred thousand word stories, those really are time consuming and endless. I also think Tonk/Hermione is one of my favourite pairings.

This is the first half of my Author's Note heading into my next story, more of a heads up really. I'm taking a break from Potter, not the fandom obviously just fanfiction, because I've realised that for Romance, HP works well. Teenagers. Boys and girls. Very relatable world. But Action/Adventure, I really need to improve on that aspect of my stories. Which is one if the reasons why I've decided to write a Game of Thrones fanfiction.

The other reason is because I recently rediscovered it, I remember years ago watching up to season two and suddenly stopping. I can't remember why, especially now I binged all seven seasons from start to finish a week ago. It might not be as nice of a world as HP but there's charm in its darkness; good stories amongst the sex, gore and foul language. And at least I can be more me with this new story; its quite liberating to be given permission to swear.

Anyway thanks for reading this story, and to my audience reading this I thank you for choosing this story to waste however much of your day with.