Harry moved through the tombstones, to the spot he knew he had to reach, under the large tree. He got to the right aisle and moved down to his parents tomb but as he approached he noticed someone was before the tomb, a small figure wrapped in a coat with a blond head bowed and arms wrapped around the body for warmth.
Harry finally reached the tomb and looked down at the little girl whose eyes had nothing to do with the dreamy orbs she had inherited from her mother, her eyes were reddish from the tears..
'What are you doing here, sweetie?' Harry asked and Morgana looked up at him with furious eyes, the eyes of the innocent being right about something and not being afraid to show it.
'It's your fault she died, it's your fault she suffered, you killed her, without my Godmother I'm like you, alone,' Morgana accused, her light voice heaving with new tears. Harry looked at the girl in terror, only then he noticed two more figures were behind the girl, Jane and Robert Granger were wrapped in each other's arms, sobbing and mourning.
Then Harry dared to look at the tombstones, next to the joint tombstone of his parents, there was one more, as imposing and heavy with a description that made Harry's heart stop.
Hermione Jane Granger
19/09/1979 – 25/12/2004
Beloved Daughter Friend Godmother & Heroine
The Brightest Witch of her Age
Harry's eyes snapped open and he gave a groan as he felt the cold sweat run down his entire body, he was on his own bed at Hogwarts and he could feel his entire body still in numbness from the nightmare. He had to capture Yaxley quickly, and he had to inform Hermione about it.
Christmas day started for him quickly, he had set his mind, in first chance, he would talk to Hermione, he had to, she would be angry, it had been days ever since the threat started but he had to inform her, he had to clear up things and she needed to be prepared, even if that would lead her in fear of Morgana and her parents, she never regarded herself when there were others before her that could be in line of fire.
When he finally moved down to the common room he found Hermione and Morgana chasing each other around or rather Hermione chasing Morgana as the toddler seemed not too keen of wearing a bow to her hair while Hermione wanted her Goddaughter to look great for her parents.
'Oh come on 'Ana... it will be only for a few hours!' Hermione begged as she heaved breaths after chasing the girl for almost half an hour, she smiled good morning to Harry and nodded her head towards a pile of gifts under their personal Christmas tree in the common room, the girls had obviously opened theirs already, Morgana's eagerness was known so no gift would have remained closed.
'Your mum wants you to wear a bow too but you won't do it.' Morgana accused and Hermione sighed, indeed she wouldn't but she wasn't a four year old, Morgana was! 'Harry, help me,' Morgana and Hermione said at the same time and Harry grinned despite his own worries for way darker matters that concerned the girls before him but scooped Morgana in her arms as Hermione approached. Harry turned slightly so he could talk to Morgana privately.
'If you wear the bow, I promise the first day of spring, when all the snow will be melted, I'll take you for your first ride on a broom.' Harry said and both Morgana and Hermione widened their eyes.
'What?'
'Deal!'
Harry smiled at the two girls as he turned again and allowed Hermione to use the bow but the brunette was glaring at him.
'You will talk about this with Luna,' Hermione said finally, half knowing the blond wouldn't have a problem but right now she needed to keep the authority somehow, all she had to do was either pray for Luna not to be back until then or persuade her not to allow Harry to do such thing.
'You'll talk with Luna about wanting to dress up her girl against her will,' Harry threatened with a smile and Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Oh hush, it's just a bow,' Hermione said as she finally made a nice ponytail to the little girl's hair and kept it firm with the blue ribbon in a cute bow. The girl gave her a pointed a look and a peck on Harry's cheek before she could leave jumping up and down for her room, leaving the two adults alone.
From the previous night and their apologizing and accusing conversation the two had spent the night in their bedrooms with doors shut and tired eyes, not sure how to keep up from there, they knew they had to talk about the whole deal, broken commands, having made love twice already and not accepting things to themselves let alone before each other, but right now Harry was feeling that he had to talk to her about Yaxley first.
'We need to talk,' he finally said and Hermione felt her heart accelerating, she didn't want to do that, not today, not now, not yet, she wanted him to open his presents, get ready and leave for her parents' house. She didn't want her eyes to be all red from crying when she was to face her mother. She didn't want to face that demon yet, she needed to be happy for one more day before either losing what they had or him for that matter.
'Later, please, you should open your presents and then get ready for my parents, I promised we'd be on time and we must buy a bottle of wine in our way to Camden so we need to go the muggle way up to a point. We should also stop by Andromeda's to give Teddy his gifts.' Hermione finally said quickly and Harry sighed, they could read each other's eyes, the time was nearing but this time, he wouldn't push her like she respected his wish a couple of days ago.
'Fine, I hope you got me something nice,' he said, he would grant her wish, he would let her enjoy Christmas with no looming fears over her parents, there were aurors keeping them safe, she wouldn't be able to help even if she knew. He would let her enjoy this day at least.
'I always get you something nice,' Hermione countered and slapped his arm playfully the bracelet he had gotten her with two charms of an "H" and a silver kneazle jiggling from her hand. 'Thank you for this, I knew this year it wouldn't be a book.' She said and Harry smiled.
'I knew you had everything you wanted and by now, I'm afraid I'll get you something you have already read so... a jewel seemed better.' He said and Hermione smiled and handed him her gift. He ripped open the wrapping and opened the small wooden box that was hidden underneath.
Inside the box, there were the two way mirrors, Harry looked at Hermione, both mirrors were repaired and waited to be used like the first day, when Harry had opened Sirius' gift after his death.
'I put up a small fight with Aberforth, he sold it to me many times over the price he had paid to Mandugus and I had to threaten his goat for him to stop rising the price, and it took me a bit to find a proper restoring charm for your own mirror but I figured you wouldn't miss it, I knew you had it somewhere in your belongings in the flat and retrieved it when you were at the mission...' Hermione said and Harry smiled and wrapped an arm around her. He didn't care they hadn't cleared up the things they had to, right now his heart was full of warmth for the young woman before him, she was his partner into battle, she was his fuck buddy... and so much more than that, but she was also his best friend, the only one who never left him.
He kissed her lips softly, thanking her, and she responded with a light kiss as well and smiled. Harry took one of the mirrors and gave it to her. He needed to keep contact with her, and the times were dangerous, he needed her to have one of the two. Hermione smiled and took it.
'You're sure?' she asked and Harry smiled and nodded.
'More than you can know, I need you to have it with you and I'll have the other.' He said and Hermione smiled and nodded her head.
The rest of the hours they had free were spent with them enjoying their gifts sent by their friends, books, some magical objects and many cards from friends and the Weasleys, some Greek products they had no idea how to use from Luna who was obviously still in Greece and leather gloves from Hagrid, drawings from Teddy but both cherished each other's gifts the most.
Morgana had also gotten a lot of presents, a beautiful magical doll from Harry, typical gift from a man to a little girl, books of fairy tales from Hermione, a Greek miniature of an ancient witch from Luna, toys, clothes and a drawing from Teddy as well... the girl was occupied until they could all leave Hogwarts, after having a cup of tea with Hagrid and wishing Happy Christmas to Headmistress McGonagall.
They moved outside Hogwarts and first apparated to Andromeda's where they spent sometime with Teddy. Morgana and the boy had all the fun of the world and decided that they were "a thing" officially, having the adults grinning.
'I'll see you soon, boyfriend,' Morgana said as Teddy hugged her tightly, his hair changing into a matching blond of the girl.
'OK girlfriend,' he said proudly and Morgana reached up and gave him a peck on the lips, like she had seen in movies she watched with Harry and Hermione, where the princess and the prince kiss at the end, having the boy widening his eyes and his hair changing into red like his face while Hermione rolled her eyes and took the all grinning-smirking Morgana by the hand.
Next was Grimmauld, making sure Kreacher was alright, the house was renewed by Harry and wanted to make sure the house elf was fine, even if he didn't stay there a lot, sharing his time between his flat, Hogwarts and Hermione's. But Hermione as well wanted to make sure the elf was ok, Kreacher had been offered even to be at Hogwarts but he preferred to stay in the house he was bound to protect.
'Master and mistress are kind, and their little one as well,' the elf said and Harry and Hermione smiled as Morgana was looking at the creature with a huge smile, being raised by a naturalist and an activist made her love every kind of being in the world.
Kreacher had been kinder over the years to the point of finally stopping calling Hermione with names and respecting Harry, in response, both of them were as kind as ever to him, his last years deserved to be peaceful.
'You're always welcome by the elves in Hogwarts.' Harry said once again and the elf bowed.
'Maybe later, master. How can Kreacher help you?' he asked and Harry smiled.
'I want one of the bottles of wine in the cellar, one of the finest please,' he said and Hermione looked at him.
'You're sure? They're expensive and they're Sirius'.' Hermione said and Harry smiled.
'And what better way to use them than with your family? He was very fond of you and I'm sure he would love to spend time with the people who raised you to become the woman you are today,' Harry said honestly and Hermione smiled and nodded after a blush.
After they took the bottle, they left for Camden and reached Hermione's house in moments. Hermione knocked on her parents' door and after a moment the kind face of her mother appeared along the rest. Jane Granger smiled happily at the people at her door and hugged her daughter tightly, Jane had light blue eyes that her daughter hadn't inherited but she was as welcoming and kind as her girl.
'Harry, sweetheart,' Jane greeted the man next with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek before she could marvel at the girl before her. 'And my sweet Morgana, the most beautiful girl in the world,' Jane said and cupped the girl's cheeks before kissing her nose and hugging her too. 'Come in all of you, it's freezing outside.' She added after taking Morgana in her arms and urging them gently inside. 'Your father is making your favorite, he didn't even let me help... said my cooking ability will fail our dinner,' Jane was saying as before the door could close, Harry made sure the camouflaged Aurors were outside, giving a magical signal only for him to see, he nodded and finally closed the door.
They greeted Robert who was in his best clothes and a Christmas apron completed the outfit as he grinned sheepishly and greeted his girl with love and a big kiss on the cheek, whispering he missed her, then greeted Harry with a manly hug and a pat on the shoulder and then started fooling around with Morgana who always liked Hermione's dad for all the attention he gave her.
'What an amazing bow is this?' he asked and Morgana grinned and shook her head for the bow to move.
'I chose it,' she said and Hermione glared playfully at the lie of the little girl.
'Whatever,' she whispered as her father wouldn't believe his daughter that the little girl was a pain to accept the ribbon in her hair.
'Don't worry, I know the truth,' Harry whispered playfully close to Hermione's ear and she smiled sweetly at him and nodded as their bodies brushed against each other warmly.
'So...the bottle is for tonight?' Jane asked awkwardly as she watched the younger people's exchange of intimacy with knowing eyes, she knew this would happen and she knew the mistake of her daughter's with Ron would only prove her theories right sooner or later.
Harry moved a step away from Hermione, realizing that their deal had to remain secret from everyone, he had gotten used to be close to her but he had to be careful, he nodded franticly and offered the bottle. Jane smiled and took it in her hands, eyeing her daughter with a very Hermion-ish look behind her oblivious husband before she could gesture for them to sit down.
'Robert, my love, I think the turkey will be burnt if you keep up here and my "pointless attempts at cooking" would have been the only thing that would feed us if you had let me cook for tonight...' Jane said as she thrust the bottle at her husband's hand who nodded, took Morgana from the hand and moved to the kitchen. 'He just can't wait to become a grandfather...' she added as she looked at the two young people who blushed furiously on the couch, she had them to herself, she could play and fish out things from them.
'These are your gifts,' she said to the blushed pair and the two took numbly the presents, hoping Morgana was still here to preoccupy Jane who smiled at them. 'How's Crookshanks?' she asked, she loved the pet as she had it with her for more than a year ever since Hermione had sent her parents to Australia and missed him dearly when her daughter took him back with her.
'He's just fine, sleeping on my pillow the last time I saw him,' Hermione said and her mother smiled and urged her to open her gift. Hermione did so and smiled a bit as she looked inside.
There was a double frame, one with her parents in a muggle shot smiling proudly before a little Hermione in her Hogwarts robes and next to it, there was a picture of Hermione and Harry in a Wizarding picture, waving as their arms were wrapped around each other. She looked at Harry and the gift he had received. The same double frame but in this, there was a picture of his own parents, holding Harry as a baby and the same of his and Hermione.
'I asked Andromeda's help, she lives in Muggle London so I could find her and she was the only one I knew who could help us with this, she said she found and duplicated the magical pictures in Grimmauld Place. Happy Christmas, dears,' Jane said and Hermione stood up and hugged her mother tightly, she was as smart as her daughter and as caring and she loved her for that. Harry as well hugged Jane, thanking her very much for the gift, it was truly precious for him.
'So... now, tell me your news, Robert and I haven't seen you in awhile...' Jane said and her knowing eyes were back on them who shifted uncomfortable on their seats.
'Nothing much, mum, we're both in Hogwarts, Harry had a mission that is not finished yet, everything's fine.' Hermione said with a too natural shrug that had her mother raising an eyebrow but nodding her head.
She didn't have time to say something more as there was a knock on the door that had everyone frowning, Harry felt his heart racing, Jane rose to open the door and both Harry and Hermione followed her as they didn't expect anyone else, Harry held his wand from inside his robes.
'Hello Mrs. Granger, are Harry and Hermione here?' the all to familiar voice of their friend was heard and Jane smiled and nodded and made way for Luna to enter her household.
'Luna! You're back!' Hermione exclaimed happily and hugged her friend tightly.
'I had sent your gifts before I received your latest letters with the news of the owl... I had to return, I tried your flats, Grimmauld and Hogwarts and when you were nowhere to be found I knew you'd be here.' Luna said as she left Hermione's arms and hugged Harry.
'You're welcome to have dinner with us,' Jane offered kindly and Luna smiled and thanked the older woman honestly.
'My little one?'
'Mummy?' both Lovegoods asked and Luna turned around and looked at her daughter who had probably heard her mum from the kitchen. Luna knelt down as her little daughter rushed in her mother's awaiting arms. 'Mummy! I missed you!' the girl squealed and Luna smiled and hugged her tightly.
'I missed you too, my heart, how are you? What a cute ribbon!' Luna said with dreamy eyes and Morgana smiled and kissed her mum as Hermione smiled and gave her little Goddaughter a pointed look.
They all had dinner together, laughing, listening to Luna's stories from Greece and random ways the Greeks have for celebrating Christmas like many of them having a little wooden ship instead of a tree as they see themselves as a nation bound with the sea. They discussed things and enjoyed the wine, clapped for Morgana when she sung the carols Hermione had taught her and Harry smiled as he enjoyed himself with Hermione's family and Luna.
He felt great for how easily he enjoyed the time with the Grangers, Jane's occasional knowing eyes upon him and Hermione, along Luna's almost approving eyes every time Harry and Hermione would touch or whisper something in each other's ear or just look at each other, were unnoticed after a point.
'Tomorrow, you should come at my and dad's place, I already stopped by Hogwarts and took Morgana's things, so tonight you have it all to yourselves...' Luna said when they were outside the Grangers' house, after the dinner. Hermione and Harry felt actually sad for the babysitting being over. They both hugged Morgana who was heavy with sleep but she responded and kissed them both on the cheeks and promised she would see them again before she could wrap her arms around her mum.
'We'll be there, Luna we promise.' Hermione said before they could all apparate away.
The two weren't sure how to spend their night, Morgana was suddenly gone and the common room felt very empty but Harry was thinking of talking to Hermione and she, as if reading his mind, decided to retreat first for her bedroom, giving the signal of their sleeping arrangements. Harry sighed, not pushing once again and went to his own bedroom, laid there and looked at the double frame of the Grangers' and the mirror, he was even tempted to speak to Hermione through it but it would be stupid. She needed her sleep and he needed to think of an actual way of telling the truth.
Hermione in her own bedroom was though similar things, looking at the mirror on her nightstand, the bracelet on her wrist and the gift of her mum's. She sighed, not sure for how long she'd be able to stop Harry from clearing things up, some Gryffindor she was.
The next morning was uncomfortable as the previous, with Harry asking her to talk first thing in the morning but her asking him first to the Lovegoods' and then talk. In the sleepless night she had spent, she had decided that indeed, they needed to talk about their deal, either breaking it or... expanding it, they needed to touch that subject because honestly, she didn't want to spend more nights away from his bed and she needed to know if she would be allowed to go back there or not once and for all.
They moved outside the grounds of Hogwarts and apparated to the hill close to the Ottery St. Catchpole, they knocked on the door and Luna opened it with a huge smile on her face, the renovated house looked as odd as the old one but they liked it since it was Luna's house.
They entered the place and Morgana greeted them in her pajamas and a mustache of milk on her upper lip. Hermione hugged her little Goddaughter, having missed her already and cleaned the mustache with her finger before she could kiss the little girl's cheek.
'Morgana, why don't you go upstairs to grandpa? He might need some help with his tea and cookies...' Luna offered and Morgana smiled brightly and nodded her head, kissed Harry as well and then moved up the stairs of her grandfather's house to join him and the cookies. 'He feels a bit under the weather, excuse him for not showing up.' Luna said and both Hermione and Harry nodded their heads, showing it was no problem. Luna sighed heavily, something rare for her constant dreamy state before she spoke.
'Her father is about to arrive and I wanted you here, I didn't want to be alone.' Luna said and both Harry and Hermione frowned, 'When I returned here last night, he had sent a letter to my father and ever since, daddy has locked himself in his chamber, allowing only Morgana in...' Luna said and Harry and Hermione looked at each other, so it wouldn't be good, meeting Morgana's dad.
'Who is he? I have been asking you for years,' Hermione said and Luna sighed and took Hermione's hand in hers.
'I haven't told you because he had decided to be away and I knew you would be after him. I knew I shouldn't have been with him in the first place but I also thought he would be different. I thought he had changed for the better and wanted to give it a try.' Luna said and Hermione sighed and hugged her friend with one arm, the two had fought in the ministry battle and the battles of Hogwarts in 1996 and 1998. They had backed each other against Bellatrix and they had remained good friends, Hermione only wanted the best for her friend and the little girl of hers.
'You know I wouldn't judge you, it's your personal matter, but who is he?' she asked again, softer this time as Harry moved close as well. There was a sound from the fireplace as Hermione was making the question again and out of the green flames of the floo network, no one else but Draco Malfoy showed up in his black robes and a grim expression on his face as he looked first at Luna, then at Hermione and last at Harry.
'I am,' he said calmly and Hermione's hand dropped from Luna's as she looked between her friend and the Slytherin with wide eyes for long moments. Harry didn't have time to grasp Hermione's arm, or some part from her muggle clothes, his Seeker reflexes failing as she launched forward, raised her fist and for the second time in her life, punched Draco Malfoy in the face.
'I DON'T CARE OF HOW LUNA WILL BE TOWARDS YOU BUT YOUR DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ASKING FOR YOU! WONDERING IF SHE HAS A DAD, WONDERING WHY HE'S NOT THERE! I WAS THERE WHEN SHE WAS A BABY, HOPING FOR THE SODDING GIT WITH HER GENES TO SHOW UP. WHEN SHE TURNED ONE, WHEN SHE STARTED TALKING! WHEN SHE CONSIDERED HARRY AND RON AND THE REST AS HER DADS BUT NOT HER ACTUAL FATHER! YOU HAD SEEN HER IN BALLS AND CELEBRATIONS WE ALL ATTENDED, AND YOU HAVE MORE THAN A BIG FORTUNE TO HELP HER! YOU KEEP ON MAKING ALL THE WRONG CHOICES, DRACO MALFOY!' Hermione screamed with no control even if Harry tried to hold her back and Luna got between her and the punched Draco who was holding his nose and glaring at her before Luna could heal his nose.
Harry had been smart enough to take her wand without her noticing while she screamed so when she reached for it, she didn't find it and glared at him, her outburst proving how strongly she felt as Morgana's guardian.
'Hermione calm down, please,' Harry said but she still hummed, held by him by the waist and arm, the last thing he needed was to have to arrest her because Draco would want to sue her for attacking...
'No she's right,' the blond man said and they all looked at him, Luna included with her innocent eyes waiting, only that seemed to calm down everyone, Hermione included who had turned pink with fury and breathed heavily against Harry, hating that mostly, his own words soothed her than Malfoy's. 'I'm here to apologize and ask you to give me a chance with our daughter.' Draco added, now fully looking at Luna. 'I know I've put you thought a lot, I have no excuse of what I've done but I never expected our affair behind Pansy's back resulting to a child and I got scared, the time passed and I tried even to believe that she wasn't mine, but I knew, in the times I had a glimpse of hers, that she was mine, the rightful Malfoy heiress and my child. I'm so sorry.' He added as he touched Luna's hand and Hermione huffed as both she and Harry watched the blond pair, now their eyes focusing on Luna.
'I knew you'd come back eventually, and I know our daughter will accept you, as her Godmother told you, she's been craving for her dad for a long time... but how can I trust you?' she asked and Draco now held both her hands as Harry released Hermione but held her by the arm still.
'I can try, maybe we can introduce me as a friend of yours... I am willing to try for her, to get to know her like Granger here does... I want to try and I swear in my mother's life, I won't let you down this time.' Draco said and Luna sighed and glanced at her friends, Hermione had returned on glaring at Malfoy but looked at Luna with uncertain eyes while Harry looked at Luna with a pointing look.
'I think he won't screw up with his child's life, at least not again, when he chooses the right side, he sticks with it.' Harry tried and now everyone looked at him, Luna with the faintest of smiles, Draco with surprise at the defense and Hermione in shock.
'Hermione?' Luna asked, wanting to know her opinion. 'You and I have raised 'Ana so far... you have a say in this as you have cherished her as your own,' Luna said and Hermione looked again at Luna, the two women were indeed great friends during and after the war, Hermione still remembered how Luna had helped her after Bellatrix's tortures at the Shell Cottage, that memory led her to glare at Draco again who was the one confirming who she was to Lestrange.
'I don't know, all I know is that I will support your choice because you're her mother and I, even as her Godmother, haven't her blood, and I don't want to have 'Ana one day hating me for being against her own father,' Hermione finally said, trying as always to be logical. 'But if he blows it once again, I can't guarantee anything about how I will act... Understood?' she said and the last question was towards Malfoy who nodded his head once and looked back at Luna.
'I guess we can try then,' Luna finally said and Draco hugged her tightly.
'Thank you...' he whispered and Hermione sighed as she looked at her friend in her old foe's arms. She would need days to accept facts but right now she just wanted to make sure Morgana would have some kind of connection to her dad. Only now Hermione realized the pointed chin and the shade of blond of the child's not being Luna's, only now the puzzle pieces clicked together.
'OK, I guess we should go now...' Harry said, knowing the two needed some time to talk and Hermione needed time to proceed everything in her head, like he did if he wanted to be honest.
'Wait, I want to give you something first,' Luna said as she reached for a small bag, very similar to the bag Hermione had with her in the Horcrux hunt. 'Inside, it's the tent I have for my trips, you're both still on vacations and you deserve some carefree days, considering all the things unfolding...' Luna said and for a moment both Harry and Hermione looked at her as if she knew what was on between them.
'This is a thank you from me, for taking care of Morgana. Hermione has told me about the Forest of Dean and how much she loves it, maybe you could go there and spend some days...' Luna added and both Harry and Hermione nodded their heads numbly, remembering the days they had been left alone in the forest, after Godric's Hollow, when Hermione had expressed her wish of staying there with Harry and grow old...
Harry's mind then went to Yaxley and the possible dangers the two of them could face all alone in a tent in the Forest of Dean, yet they had been safe in Hunt and this trip would have them finally alone to talk about their issues... and Hermione would definitely need sometime to accept Draco Malfoy as her Goddaughter's father and Harry's truth about Yaxley...
So Forest of Dean it is...