He refused to leave her side. Harry made the healers perform their spellwork on Hermione before his eyes since he would not separate from her. When the initial assessment was through, a Healer aided Harry to collapse into a nearby armchair.

"You should let us assess your injuries, Mr. Potter." Harry only had the energy to wave her off.

"When…When will she wake up?

The Healer sighed as she looked at Hermione's sleeping form. "When her mind has had time to heal. The stress of having to defend herself from her darkest thoughts is not something we have the magic to fix. Be prepared, Mr. Potter."

The Healer gave him a sympathetic look as she vacated the room leaving them alone though Harry knew it was only a matter of time before the Weasleys arrived.

Staring at her face, he recalled some of the most beautiful memories they had created since he came back. He imagined this same sleeping face but under the morning light when all was well.

On a day that seemed like years ago, Harry awoke to find his newly named girlfriend still under the covers beside him. He must have stirred the bed too much because Hermione came out of her slumber with soft moans.

"Harry?"

"I promise I wasn't staring at you sleep all night," he said cheerfully.

She gave a stiff smile and began to look around the room.

"What is it? Should I have gone home?"

"No, no, Harry, don't be daft." But, Hermione was clearly bothered by something. "Let me just…uh… go to the…let me just get dressed. Really quickly. I mean I'll be dressed really quickly," said Hermione awkwardly as she inched away from him on the bed.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?" She was now off the bed and was cautiously wrapping the blanket around her torso.

"Do you remember what we did last night?"

She blushed harder than Harry had ever seen at his words. "Of course!" She squeaked.

"Then you know that I know your body. Why are you trying to hide?" Harry was almost laughing now as she covered her face with her palm.

"There's just too much light in here!"

Harry stifled his laughter so as not to wake Hermione before she properly rested. But his mind returned to the best of times.

Harry was packing a bag in the bedroom when he heard the pop of an apparition. It could only mean that she was home early.

"What are you doing home so early?" Harry let her know how thrilled he was at the extra time he was given with her by enveloping her in his arms.

"I know I said eight, but my eyes started to cross from reading all the casework. Wait, were you going somewhere?"

Harry showed her the note he was just about to send her. "Yeah, I asked to take Teddy to the park and…"

"Teddy time?! Let me get ready, and I'll come too!"

Harry chuckled at her racing towards the room, "I thought you said you were tired?"

"Only of reading!" she yelled out from inside the closet. "Wait, I don't have any running shoes. What am I supposed to wear? Work flats?!"

"Well we'll get you proper shoes later, Hermione. Teddy's already waiting for me…"

"Are you trying to rush me out of the door?"

"Hermione…"

She came to stand in front of him with her closed fists on her hips. "I just got home two seconds ago, you know."

Harry closed his eyes, tilted his head up, and sighed briefly. "You're right. Shall we go buy you some trainers right now? Keep the boy waiting?"

Her eyes narrowed, "No, I suppose not." She turned to finish getting dressed, and a baffled Harry was silently amazed to have won the discussion. "What I do need...is to find…some form of exercise. You know, something exhilarating."

"I'm pretty sure I can help you with that," playfully remarked Harry, which earned him a smack in the back of the head with a pillow and an 'Honestly!' attached to it.

Harry had moved his armchair to be nearer to Hermione's face. He gently stroked her cheek repeatedly as he thought of the moments he could have been having since he first kissed her on the beach. All she had wanted was a semblance of a regular life with him. He recalled an argument over having to go out in disguise.

"So, we'll never be able to have a normal night out?" Hermione asked, clearly frustrated. She had her best outfit on and face made up because she had surprised Harry with dinner reservations.

"I'm not saying we can't go-"

"But just not as ourselves!"

"Even if there was no direct threat, Hermione, you know that we'd be constantly hounded the entire time. I don't want to go through a night of putting on a face."

"You would have to pretend to enjoy your time with me?"

Harry groaned audibly before replying, "That's not at all what I meant!"

"I want to see your face across the table not Paul the blonde banker," she stated with a roll of her eyes. Hermione was referring to one of Harry's favorite disguises, which had its own elaborate yet boring backstory.

"Well how about this? Why don't you pick what I'll look like?"

"Harry-"

"Just here me out." He took her hands and led her to sit down. Harry took the seat across from her and pulled out his wand. "We'll make it fun, Hermione. I'll only use the features you choose when we are going out in public that way it's our own secret, and this way we can get used to it eventually."

"And you would pick out features for me?" She seemed to be warming to the idea of changing appearances, so Harry summoned a bottle of her favorite wine and tried to keep the conversation light.

"We can start tonight to try it out."

Hermione was quiet for a moment as she sipped, then she finally remarked, "Alright Harry, but we are not changing our eyes. I want to see its still you when I look into your eyes."

He smiled softly as he leaned forward to kiss her. Harry never felt prepared to receive the amount of love she showered him with.

"And absolutely NO goatees!"

"Merlin, Harry!" How did you both manage to survive this time?!"

Harry's head snapped up to notice Ron and most of the Weasley's filling Hermione's hospital room.

"We got to hear the Healer's report outside, Harry," said Percy urgently. "Nasty business, those dementors!"

"No Perce," interrupted George. "They're a real joy."

"Oh, shut it!" said Ginny. "Can't you see Hermione's got enough recovering to do without you dolts intruding on her rest?"

"But, it's unheard of to fight off dementors for as long she had…"

"Did the department catch any of them Harry? I don't get how one moment we're raiding a possible hideout and the next the Ministry is being overrun by dementors." Ron's confusion was understandable yet Harry struggled to find the energy to explain.

"We only caught one. Maybe the leader. He had scores of muggles just under some sort of curse. They weren't aware of anything that was happening to them."

As his comments settled in the others' minds, Harry noticed Hermione's breathing was now shallow as though she was stirring from her sleep. The Weasleys, however, paid no attention as they discussed the elusive nature of the enemies.

"Maybe it's always been muggles!"

"Don't be thick, Ron."

"Or maybe there's no such thing as muggles because they've been hiding their magic from us just like we've been hiding from them!" mocked George.

"Can't you take anything seriously?!"

"We may never know who they are!" interrupted Percy as Ron had arisen from his seat by this point and was staring George. "They are likely of no great power, you know, just ordinary magic. So ordinary in fact that they are able to lay low and evade the entire Ministry. But, somehow, they've tapped into extraordinary knowledge: magic can expand further than we've ever dared to push it to. I guarantee we're going to have to study collective spellwork from now on…"

Suddenly, Percy's comment was immediately silenced by a joint gasp as everyone had noticed the same small action.

Bulging, brown eyes shot open in the low light. "H-h-h-h-h…Ha-harry…" quivered a voice, which bared no resemblance to Hermione's true form.

"I'm here!"

Her gaze burned into him upon meeting his green eyes. Then, without warning, she began forcibly jabbing the tips of her fingers in to the side of her skull. "T-t-t…t-take them!" Hermione repeated this demand over and over like an erratic bird falling from on high.

In an instant, Harry realized what she needed of him. He clutched his wand and lay his opposite hand on the side of her face to steady them both. Please, he pleaded with himself, don't hurt her any further. Silvery streams of memories flowed freely from Hermione's temple and into nothingness. Although unclear of what they were, Harry wanted nothing from those moments that plagued Hermione so.

Her face which was skewed in agony only moments before began to ease up finally, and Hermione allowed herself to be laid down on the hospital bed. Sniffles could be heard throughout the room as Hermione began to whisper something to an unknown presence. Her eyes were still wide but now they seemed unfocused. This was more painful to watch than anything for what could be more foreign than a lost, dejected Hermione?

Harry sat by the head of her bed leaning forward and stroking her forehead. She did not acknowledge his touch nor could she meet his eyes. She just stared off. Harry felt a myriad of emotions piling up and threatening to overcome him. Before him lay Hermione broken and defenseless.

"Dear?" whispered Mrs. Weasley from somewhere behind him. Harry had completely forgotten the others in the room. He lifted his gaze from Hermione and looked around at the others. Helpless faces stared at Hermione's form.

"She fought them off longer than I thought was possible," said Harry in a hoarse voice. "She's stronger than all of us. Don't forget it!" Though Mrs. Weasley's eyes produced new tears and even Ron was stuck clearing his throat repeatedly, Harry knew his confidence in Hermione was enough to keep the pity away. He would take her home and be with her as long as it took to see her smile again.

After days and days without seeing the beautiful look of happiness on her face, an idea struck Harry that he desperately hoped would work. Hermione remained ever silent by his side burdened with the emotional trauma she had faced. He had kept her close and wiped the stray tears that marked her face when she got lost in her own thoughts. There was a new level of panic rising within Harry because he could not get his love, his Hermione back.

Harry tried even harder to quell the nausea he felt with himself. He had rearranged the face of a man he hated. Pure hatred was not something easily tucked away, and Harry found he could not meet his own green eyes in the mirror. Instead, he chose to focus on the one great love in his life. Maybe by some divine grace, this love could heal the ugliness inside.

The sweet giggles of a young boy challenged the crashing sounds of the waves. Harry brought Teddy along for a day trip with Hermione. They stood on the very spot he and Hermione had imagined a different relationship for themselves not long ago. The importance of the location was not lost on Hermione who met Harry's eyes with a loving stare when they first apparated.

It was the first time she had displayed any emotion other than general unease, and it made Harry's heart sore.

"Not in your mouth, Teddy!" The toddler had decidedly placed a fistful of sand in his cheeks. Harry chuckled and raced after him with their footprints disappearing almost as soon as they were imprinted. Hermione was watching them from her beach chair with what Harry hoped was newfound lightness when he encouraged Teddy to be mischievous.

"Come on, bud. Do this for me." Then, as though Teddy could read Harry's every thought, he bellowed out a great big laugh and zigzagged towards Hermione. She quickly caught him in her arms and gave a very small smile. It was all Harry needed. He carried the pair of them and clumsily splashed into the water. Teddy was clearly overjoyed with the ocean and wiggled out of both their arms. He enthusiastically rolled around in the wet sand by the shore making sure he made his mark.

"Anything." Harry said to Hermione has he held both of Hermione's hands in his. He willed her to look into his eyes. It was so difficult for her to reach his eyes but she made the biggest effort to hold his gaze. "I will do anything you ask of me just to see you smile. I miss your smile so much, Hermione. Please…"

She breathed in as calmly as she could. "I-I need you to say it again. My mind plays tricks on me now. I don't know if it's real anymore."

Harry did not need any further clarification. "I want nothing more, Hermione, than to love you for the rest of my days. We will heal together. I promise we will heal together."

He lay his hand on the side of her face as he witnessed the most captivating smile shine through all the sorrow. It would be enough to fuel his soul for the years to come.

The end.

Author's note: Thank you for reading the story that has been stuck in my head for many years. I love the world that J.K. Rowling created, and it has never truly ended for me. Please feel free to review, but if time is short, go off and lead beautiful lives.