Well here it is; the first chapter of a fic that has been stuck in my head since DH was published. This story takes place after the end of DH, but before the epilogue hence the title. Much of this first chapter might not make sense, but I assure you most of it is DH complient as well as in line with the epilogue and Jo's post publication interviews. However, this is my version of how we get from the end of DH to that silly epilogue. There is no character bashing, but if you absolute hate the thought of Harry/Luna don't bother reading. There should be several chapters to this fic, however I'm not exactly certain how many. I will attempt to update regularly, but be patient I do have a life. I hope you enjoy. Review if you like.

And by the way, I own nothing but the idea. All characters and the HP wizarding world belong to JKR.

Harry Potter and the Years Between

Chapter One

"Harry stop! Please. I absolutely have to get this report done by Monday and your pacing is terribly distracting. Please, can't you just sit down and read a book or something?"

"Er…sorry Hermione," Harry plopped himself down in an overstuffed chair across from her. "It's just that…I'm bored. What time did you say Ron was coming home?"

"I didn't. I told you Harry, everyone at the shop, including Ron, is working late. They have to get the inventory done before the big sale and grand opening tomorrow. I don't know an exact time, all I know is that Ron told me not to wait up for him and that goes for you too, Harry." Hermione continued, "He's going to be utterly exhausted when he gets back Harry, and he has to be up again early in the morning to open the shop, so you cannot even think about keeping him up later. Do you understand?"

"Oh… right…yeah" Harry pouted as he ran the tips of his fingers over the smooth fabric of the chair. Harry avoided Hermione's glare by glancing around the parlor of the small flat with a look of much interest.

After a few moments, when Hermione had returned her focus to the papers in front of her, Harry got up from the chair and once again began his pacing of the room, this time making a wide berth around Hermione, so as not to annoy her.

Though the flat was on the small side, it really was rather cozy. Harry had to admit that Ron and, mostly, Hermione had done a very nice job decorating it since the first time he had been there only a few months before.

Mrs. Weasley had originally objected to the idea of Ron and Hermione moving in together. But the two of them had convinced her it was all part of their plan to save money for the wedding and to buy a house after they got married. This seemed to appease her somewhat, but still she insisted they could save just as much money if Ron moved in with Percy and George in the flat above the Diagon Alley shop and if Hermione lived at the Burrow with Ginny and them. Hermione had countered with the fact that her apprenticeship required her to be available at all hours of the day; it would be much more convenient for her to live closer to the Ministry. Ron also complained that George's flat was absolutely too small for the three of them. Eventually Mrs. Weasley wore down and reluctantly agreed to the arrangement. Ron was able to find a two bedroom flat located on a quiet muggle street in London, not far from both the Diagon Alley shop and the Ministry. The rent was reasonable so the two of them moved in just before Christmas, right after Hermione sat for her NEWTs and a couple of weeks before she started her job at the Ministry. So naturally, when Harry was on leave from the Academy this is where he chose to stay; close to his friends.

Of course he could stay at the Burrow, but Ginny was there, along with Mrs. Weasley's mollycoddling. Well he supposed he could handle the mollycoddling, but Ginny he wasn't too sure about.

Harry had now begun to ware a path in the carpet as he continued to circle around the room; trying desperately to avoid Hermione.

"Oh for Merlin's sake Harry, would you please just Owl her and tell her you want to get back together."

"What? Or should I say, who are you talking about?" Harry stared at her innocently. How the hell could she know what he was thinking?

"Ginny, I'm talking about Ginny of course. I can't have you moping around this flat all weekend, thinking about her. I have to finish this report and your presence is not helping me one bit. Owl her, tell her you've had time to think it over and that you want nothing more than to spend your time off from the Academy with her and then you can get out of my hair!"

'First of all, I am not moping. I am just restless and bored. And secondly, I am not going to go crawling back to her. She's the one who broke up with me. If anyone's going to be crawling back it should be her."

"Harry James Potter, you know for a fact that is not true! Ginny did not break up with you; she simply suggested that the two of you needed some time apart to figure out what you both really wanted in your relationship."

"Well, if that doesn't sound like a break up than I don't know what does." Harry plopped himself down again with a huff.

"That's it, Harry! If you are so dense that you can't figure out that all Ginny really wants is for you to commit yourself to hers and your relationship than, as of this moment, I can no longer take part in your insipid moping or whatever you want to call it. You are now banished from this flat for the remainder of the evening. Go find some other sod to annoy. I have work to do."

"What! Are you kicking me out? "

"Yes!"

"Just because I won't go crawling back to Ginny begging her to take me back?"

"Yes."

"This is ridicules. What in Merlin's name am I suppose to do? I can't believe you would do this to me. I only get leave from the Academy every other month and this is how you treat me. Some friend you are!"

Hermione's features turned from utter annoyance to one of mild concern and pity.

"I'm sorry Harry. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that this apprenticeship is so important to me. My performance in this job could ultimately determine my future at the Ministry. Please understand that. I don't want to kick you out. But it's obvious that, for both our sakes, you need to go out and do something away from this flat. And either you go to Ginny and talk to her or you go find something to do that will take your mind off of her."

"I know this job is important to you Hermione and I'm sorry too that I have been such a bother. It just that I feel lost without her, but I just don't think I can give her what she wants right now." Harry gave her the most pathetic look he could muster.

"No, really Harry, you are not a bother, it's just that…well…I mean, I'm sorry about everything going on with you and Ginny, it's jut that it is really not a good weekend, for either Ron or me, to have you here."

"It seems it is not a good weekend for anybody to have me. What luck I have that on the first holiday I've had in months everyone seems to be busy. It's not my fault that this same weekend Andromeda took Teddy to the continent to visit some of Ted, Sr.'s relatives or that Bill and Fleur would decide that this was the perfect time to take baby Victoire to visit her Uncle Charlie in Romania; and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would decide to join them; and then of course there is the whole Hogsmeade grand opening of Weasley Brother's Incorporated newest shop? And on top of that, how ironic is it that, the one weekend Ginny could have had me all to herself; she decides I am an inconsiderate git who doesn't appreciate her?"

"Well, she does have a point you know," replied Hermione, with a knowing smirk on her face. "But I'm not going to get into that with you tonight." Hermione's knowing smirking contorted in look of sadden shock. "Oh dear…oh Harry…oh how could I have completely forgotten?"

"What's the matter?" Harry didn't even have time to process Hermione's comments regarding Ginny; the current look on her face sent him into a tailspin of concern.

Hermione's face relaxed a bit and then a small grin appeared. "Harry, I know exactly what you are going to do this evening."

"You do?"

"Yes. You are going to make a visit to St. Mungo's."

"Oh for Merlin's sake, I thought you were being serious. I am not going to waste my leave making charity trips to St. Mungo's. I have had enough celebrity visits to last me a life time. Nice try, Hermione."

"This is not a celebrity visit Harry. You are going to go visit Xeno Lovegood."

"Hermione, please, that's almost worst than the charity visits. I mean I know he's Luna's dad and everything. But watching Xeno drool in a chair while he spiels on about humdingers and gurdyroots is not my idea of an enjoyable evening. You are going to have to come up with something better than that if you want me out of your hair."

"Luna will be there."

"Luna? …No she won't. Nice try Hermione, but term doesn't end for two more days. Luna is still at Hogwarts."

"That's what I completely forgot about. Oh, I'm such an awful friend. I feel like such a heel. You see, Neville flooed me the day before last to tell me Mr. Lovegood had taken a turn for the worst. Since Luna had already sat for her NEWTs a week ago, Professor McGonagall dismissed her early to be with her father. I had been meaning to go be with her since I heard the news, but I've just been so busy with work I haven't had a chance and then it completely slipped my mind. I feel just horrible not being there for her."

Harry knew Hermione was not just saying that. It was probably one of the strangest outcomes of the war, but, the fact was, Luna had become one of Hermione closest and dearest friends. And Hermione would do just about anything for her. Of course it's not that they weren't friends before the war, but Harry had always felt that it was a relationship based on circumstances rather than one involving any real affection for each other. But that had all change.

Hermione claimed that it was due to the fact that the two of them had spent a good amount of time sharing a room together during those weeks at Shell Cottage which allowed them to really get to know each other. But Harry suspected it had more to do with the fact that Ron credits Luna for opening his eyes to the how he truly felt about Hermione. Apparently Luna had visited Ron in the hospital wing after he had been poisoned in their 6th year and during that visit Luna had very matter-of-factly pointed out to Ron that he was indeed madly in love with Hermione and Hermione was in love with him. Luna always did have a way of stating the absolute truth no matter how painful it might be to hear. Of course, if it hadn't been for Luna, Ron might still be oblivious to the obvious and Hermione knew that.

Harry chuckled to himself.

"You should go see her Harry" Hermione interrupted his thoughts. "And tell her how sorry I am that I haven't been to see her yet. Tell her how busy I am and that I'll be there the first chance I get."

"Are you sure she's in town?"

"Yes, she arrived yesterday morning, according to Neville."

"Than I think that I'm going to St. Mungo's, Hermione." Perhaps the evening was beginning to look up a bit, Harry thought.