A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series or agree with her comments. This story is a product of my pure imagination. I do not profit from this and will not pay for any commissions for art about this story.
Oh, it feels like the first time every time,
I wanna spend the whole night in your arms.
I don't know how you do what you do,
I'm so in love with you.
It just keeps gettin' better.
I wanna spend the rest of my life,
With you by my side.
Forever and ever.
Every little thing that you do,
Baby, I'm amazed by you.
~ Amazed by Lonestar
~*~ 13th September 2003 ~*~
"Hermione."
Hermione sighed, pushing her face deeper into the cloud that she was floating on.
A gentle hand brushed her cheek. "Hey, are you okay?"
Hermione blinked, slightly disoriented as the room swam into focus. She was in their room. "When did I fall asleep?" she mumbled, pushing herself up on her elbow.
Harry sat on the edge of their bed with one hand resting on her hip. "You came up here over an hour ago to work on translations."
Hermione groaned, "And I couldn't concentrate, so I thought I'd close my eyes for a second." She grabbed her glasses. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"You need to get more rest," Harry told her.
Hermione read his tone. "Harry, the translations need to happen. I'm halfway through the Ministry codex. Narcissa is handling most of the wedding details. I just have to approve things. Honestly, the biggest stress was dress shopping. I hated them all, but it wasn't entirely unsuccessful. Luna found herself a bridesmaid dress for my wedding, and I found something for theirs, so it wasn't a total loss. We're going on Monday after my appointment with Neville to another boutique in London, with more options there and designs."
Harry rubbed her knee, "You just said about thirty words without taking a breath," he told her gently. "I just don't want you to go into your manic mode."
Hermione frowned. "I don't get manic."
Harry gave her a look.
She hesitated. "Okay, only a couple times."
"Third year," Harry began, "OWLS, first year, and I'm assuming probably around the time the store was opening?"
"That was being efficient," Hermione stated.
"Hermione, in our third year, you didn't sleep for three days," Harry stated.
Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it as she couldn't think of a retort.
Harry rubbed her knee, "I can take Rose to St. Mungo's on my own. Let you sleep."
She pushed herself to sit, rubbing her eyes. "No, I'll go." She stretched, her joints cracking. "Let me get ready."
Harry leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "I'm going to give Rose her bath before we leave anyway. That way, your mum and dad don't have to worry about it."
Hermione froze mid-stretch, "Why would my mum…" she stopped, closing her eyes. "It's Saturday."
Harry frowned. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she insisted as she stood up. "Go get her washed up, and I'll grab something to eat."
Harry nodded, "Tell Rose to come upstairs. I'll go warm the bath."
Hermione walked downstairs slowly and stopped short in the sitting room.
Rosella had constructed a fortress of blankets and pillows with the cushions of their couch. Chairs were holding up blankets, draping between them. At the entrance of her "castle" was the large stuffed dragon that Charlie had gotten her.
Rosella poked her head out. "Hi Mumma."
"Daddy wants you upstairs," Hermione told her.
Rosella frowned, her curls wild. "Why?"
"It's bath time. We're going to visit Uncle Sirius, then go to Grammy and Grampy's," Hermione told her.
Rosella gasped as she scrambled out of the blankets. "It's pizza night!" she yelled, running for the stairs.
"Walk!" Hermione called after her. "Walk, Rosella Lily!"
Her tiny feet thundered up the stairs, and Hermione wandered into the kitchen, shaking her head. "I don't know why I bother, honestly." She opened the fridge to see what looked appetizing.
Harry's voice floated downstairs, saying something about splashing as Rosella's laughter echoed through the house.
Hermione leaned against the counter for a moment as her stomach rolled, pressing her hands against the counter. She wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but it was all too much. Translations. Wedding planning. The store audit was coming up. Sirius's resurrection. Rosella starting school, and Harry just starting at St. Mungo's.
Taking a breath, she straightened and grabbed an apple. Maybe she could stomach that.
After finishing half the apple, she climbed the stairs to the sound of a hair dryer. Walking into the bathroom, she paused in the doorway to find Harry standing in the middle of their bedroom with the hairdryer in one hand and the other running his fingers through her curls to separate them as Rosella chattered about her class.
"Then Annie said that Oliver liked Mrs. Vickers the best, and broughted her daisies, but I thinks that she likes roses like me. She has a rose drinking cup on her desk, Daddy. OH! And Noah cried because someone told him dinosaurs are all dead, so theys aren't real anymore. I told him that Mumma read to me that they were very real, but theys just not alive anymore like they were. Did you know that chickens are like their cousins?" Rosella asked.
"Chicken is cousins to a dinosaur?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Rosella said, shrugging, "So we eat dinosaurs."
Hermione smiled, "Don't forget the diffuser and the Sleekeze."
Harry looked at her, "Oh, right, that spaceship piece."
Hermione shook her head as she walked into their room, over to her wardrobe, and pulled out one of her dresses. It was a simple green dress that she had for special occasions. Stripping down to her knickers, she put her bra on as Rosella ran into their room.
"Mumma!" Rosella yelled, jumping onto the bed as Hermione slid into the dress. "You look beautiful. Are you going on a date?"
Hermione smiled as she adjusted her dress. "We're going out to dinner and then to see a band we might want for the wedding."
"Oooh," Rosella said, watching her as Harry walked into the room.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Reception starts at seven, right?"
Hermione nodded, pulling her hair out of her dress. "Narcissa says to arrive at eight thirty. Dinner will be finished by then."
Harry moved to his wardrobe and pulled out a crisp dress shirt and trousers. "Does it take that long to eat dinner?"
"Probably not, but we are uninvited guests who are coming just to see the band. We don't want to run into their dinner," Hermione said as she walked over to Rose, "Could you zip me up, please?"
Rosella tugged her zipper upward. "All better."
"Thank you, love," Hermione said, smoothing the fabric down.
She walked over to Harry as he buttoned his cuffs and placed her hands on his chest, smoothing the invisible wrinkles as she finished the last few buttons. "Ditch the tie."
Harry smiled. "Wasn't planning on one." He reached for a soft jumper and pulled it over his head, and Hermione pulled his collar up to peek out just enough.
Hermione stepped back, "Much better."
Rosella smiled. "You look so fancy, like Fancy Nancy!"
Hermione grabbed kitten heels and slid them on as Harry ushered Rosella out of the bedroom to feed Crookshanks before they left.
Entering St. Mungo's, Hermione followed Harry to the lift as he kept his head down.
"Now, Rose, technically you aren't supposed to be here," He whispered to them, shifting her higher on his hip, "So we have to be very quiet."
Hermione grinned as they entered the lift. "Are you breaking your own rules and regulations, Chief Potter?"
The doors shut, and Harry winked at her. "I've always been a rule breaker, Ms. Granger. You should know that best."
Rosella laid her head against his shoulder as they exited onto the ICU floor. Hermione led them down the corridor and slowed at Sirius's door. She brushed Rosella's curls back. "All right, sweetheart, Uncle Sirius is very weak and gets overstimulated easily. So, we need to be quiet, calm, and gentle."
Rosella nodded. "Got it."
Hermione opened the door, and Sirius looked up from his pillows. His eyes landed on Rosella, and they widened. "Shite, Granger. She could be a Weasley."
Hermione laughed. "When Harry was gone, people thought she was. He even thought she was."
"Not my strongest moment," Harry admitted as he moved to Sirius's bedside. He sat carefully on the edge of the bed. "Rosella, I'd like you to meet my godfather, Sirius. Sirius, this is our daughter, Rosella."
Rosella gently moved to sit on the edge in front of Harry and stuck her little hand out. "Hi, I'm Rose," she whispered.
Sirius stared at her for a moment, then took it gently. "Hello, Rose."
She tilted her head. "Yous were best friends with Grandpa James?"
He nodded. "I was."
Rosella sat back on her heels. "Do I look like him? I don't finks so."
Sirius smiled slowly. "You look a lot like your mum, but Lily would be proud of how much you look like her, too."
She climbed carefully onto the bed beside him, and all three adults sharply inhaled at the same time as she curled up into his side as if she'd known him forever. "I go to school, you know? Did you go to school?"
"I went to Hogwarts," Sirius told her, glancing at Harry.
"I've been there. It's a big castle, and Daddy says he battled a dragon there once. There are mermaids in the lake too, and I've met the nice ones on holiday," Rosella stated, "They have glittery tails, you know. Oh! And at school, Bruce stole someone's glitter glue! Got it all over his hands and then peels it off! Can you believe that?"
Sirius laughed. "No, I can't."
Harry moved to the chair and tugged Hermione onto his lap. She settled against him as he wrapped his arms around her middle, as they listened to Rosella talk Sirius's ear off.
Sirius looked at them with a smile. "I'm proud of you, pup."
"I gotta potty!" Rosella announced, jumping off the bed and skipping to the toilet.
"You made a family," Sirius continued, "All of your own, and that one, she's extraordinary. I think she'd give Lily a run for her money."
Harry rubbed Hermione's hip. "That's all, Hermione. She did the hard part. I haven't been around until this last May."
Sirius looked at them. "What?"
Hermione winced, looking back at Harry. "I didn't tell him, Harry."
Harry exhaled as Rosella started singing in the toilet. "After the final battle at Hogwarts, I left. I couldn't stay. Everything was too much. Plus, do you remember Kingsley?"
"Kingsley Shacklebolt?" Sirius asked. "Yeah, he was Albus's pet project."
"Well, he was elected Minister," Harry told him, "And when everything was too much, he arranged for me to go abroad. He said it was for me to find peace, but it was also a way to keep me away." Harry paused for a moment. "Because of you and dad, I held two Wizengamot seats. To him, a Muggle-raised wizard with that kind of influence was… dangerous."
Sirius's jaw tightened. "So, he kept you away?" he looked at Hermione, "Did he not know about Rose?"
Hermione nodded, "He knew. He manipulated our post. Intercepted letters and changed them. Made it look like neither of us missed each other, and Rose wasn't here." She explained. "Thankfully, he is in Azkaban now. Ten years at minimum."
Sirius looked at Harry. "Why did you take off? Alone at that?"
"I carried the wizarding world on my shoulders the first time when people thought he was gone. When I spoke out that he was back, they turned against me. After you… were gone, I was made public enemy number one, and Hermione number two, and we were literally hunted. After he died, while battling me… it was too much. People who were just calling for my head now adored me. I couldn't deal with it. I thought they'd go after Hermione too, so I ran," Harry admitted.
The bathroom door opened, and Rosella skipped back into the room, pulling herself up on the bed next to Sirius.
Sirius exhaled, looking at the two of them. "I have to ask, are you wearing robes or a suit at the wedding?"
Harry laughed. "Suit for the library ceremony. I haven't decided on the magical one."
"Suit," Sirius told him, "Suits are sexier, and you gotta show off your handsome self."
Hermione laughed, lying her head back against Harry's shoulder.
"Is that official godfather advice?" Harry asked.
"Absolutely," Sirius stated. "I am the dogfather, that gives me prime authority."
Rosella looked at him, "Dogfather?"
"I'll show you when I'm stronger," Sirius told her as he looked at them. "Where is your ceremony going to be?"
"We were thinking the old Potter manor in Bath in the greenhouse," Harry told him. "But nothing is certain. It's just going to be a small ceremony."
Sirius looked at him, surprised. "It's still there?"
Harry nodded.
Sirius laughed. "That's where Prongs proposed to Lily. Your grandparents were fixing it up. Your Grandmum wanted to make it into a children's hospital, and we all were pitching in. I figured the whole thing had caved in after…" he trailed off, "I doubt anyone has touched it in years, and no elves were keeping it up."
"Dad proposed to Mum there?" Harry asked, surprised.
Sirius snorted. "And tripped over a paint bucket, dropping the ring into it. I hope you are more suave like me than he was."
Hermione couldn't stop the snort that came from her.
"I want to do it there," Harry told him.
Sirius nodded. "Fill it with roses. They were your mum's favourite flower."
Rosella leaned into his side. "Like me! Will you come?"
Sirius swallowed hard, "I'll do my hardest to be there. I expect cake."
"Of course, Uncle Sirius. There has to be cake!" Rosella stated.
The night air was cool as Hermione looped her arms through Harry's. They had enjoyed a nice Italian dinner before driving to the reception, where their prospective band was playing. Golden windows were lit like lanterns, leading them inside the reception hall where long tables in cream, gold, and ivy filled the room, seating guests who were finishing cake.
At the far end of the room, a small band was playing its instruments. A string quartet with a pianist. The melody was modern and familiar, a song she'd heard on the radio, reborn through violin and cello, with the piano leading the melody. It was elegant, but not stuffy.
Harry led her to the side and sat down at an empty table. "They're good."
"They are," Hermione agreed, trying to envision them at the reception.
One of Rosella's favourite songs came on, and Hermione smiled, imagining Rosella dancing on the dance floor.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
Hermione blinked, "Narcissa was right. They are good."
"You've planned almost everything," Harry said.
Hermione frowned. "With Narcissa."
Harry shrugged. "Well, you've carried it."
Hermione balled her fists. She knew he probably didn't mean anything by it, but she was tired and emotionally exhausted. "Someone has to."
Harry looked at her. "I can help with things."
"You are, you are here," Hermione stated.
"That's not the same as taking stuff off your shoulders," Harry said, looking at the dance floor.
Hermione looked at him. Maybe it was the swelling music, maybe she was mishearing something in his tone. She knew she should bite her tongue, but her temper was shorter than she would have liked. "So, what, you think I'm controlling everything?"
Harry frowned. "That's not what I said."
"It sounds like it's what you meant," Hermione stated.
"I just meant, you don't have to do it alone," Harry told her.
Her jaw tightened. "I am not alone. Narcissa is helping me."
"I know that. I just don't want you to think you have to do it all," Harry stated.
Hermione's chest felt tight. "Because every time I depend on someone, it falls apart."
Harry blinked. "That's not fair."
Hermione huffed. "It's true."
Harry stared at her. "You think I'd let our wedding fall apart?"
"I think," she said as she stood up. "That you don't understand what it is like to have to hold everything together when you are gone… even just to work."
Harry stood up, "That's a little low, Hermione."
"Is it?" she shot back, heading through the tables again.
Harry followed her. "You're being ridiculous, Hermione."
She pivoted so fast that he nearly ran into her.
"Ridiculous?" she repeated. "You were GONE, for years, Harry! I was pregnant and alone and trying to believe that you hadn't just gone off and killed yourself or decided that I wasn't worth it. Now you swoop in and try to be the knight and shining armour and think you have a say in everything, after I have been carrying everything alone and did everything absolutely fine!"
Harry stepped back in shock. "I didn't choose to stay away. You know I didn't."
"But you did. You stayed away," Hermione said as she stormed out of the hall, back out into the cool night air. "I lived missing you every day! Had to make big choices without you every single fucking day."
Harry grabbed her arm. "Is this about deciding the band?"
"It's not about the band!" she snapped.
"Then tell me what this is about?" Harry snapped back.
Hermione looked at him. "You say I don't have to shoulder everything like it's just that simple! Like I can just… switch it off."
The silence hung between them as Hermione pivoted and stormed off, climbing into the passenger seat. As she fastened and folded her arms over her chest, Harry quietly climbed into the driver's seat without a word and started home.
The drive home was quiet. No music. No apologies. Harry's hands gripped the steering wheel as Hermione stared out the window, chewing on her bottom lip. By the time they reached the house, Hermione stormed into it before Harry could even exit the car.
Once inside, she kicked off her shoes, and Harry shut the door a little harder than necessary. "This is just stupid, Hermione. I don't even understand what you're mad about at this point."
Hermione pivoted on the stairs. "Why is it always on me? In school, motivating you and Ron. On me. Fourth year, you survived the Triwizard? On me. On the horcrux hunt? On me. It's always on me. Why am I the planner? The one that has to hold everything together?"
"I'd gladly help if you just tell me what to help with," he shot back.
"I shouldn't have to, Harry!" she yelled, storming up to their room with him following her. "You should see it."
He stood there a moment as she threw herself onto their bed and started removing her hose. He came over and sat beside her, "Okay, then this is what I am seeing. You're tired. You're scared that something is going to go wrong on your watch, so you are micromanaging everything. Scared that if you stop, you'll lose it."
Hermione blinked back the tears.
Harry reached for her hand. "Not all of this should be on you. I am trying to help. Let me handle the magical ceremony. You and Narcissa handle the Muggle side, but I can always give my input if you want me to. I will hire a team to renovate the greenhouse, get Arthur to do the bonding rites, and I'll even strengthen the wards."
She glanced at him. "You know nothing about planning things."
"I know who to ask if I need help," Harry told her, "If not you, Molly, and I'll even ask Narcissa if I need to." He squeezed her hand. "I want to marry you, Hermione. I don't care if it's in our backyard and you are wearing one of Dobby's pillowcases."
Hermione slowly released a breath.
"I also have to honeymoon."
Hermione looked at him. "The honeymoon… shite, the honeymoon." She groaned. "I didn't even think of the honeymoon."
Harry rubbed her back, "You've been thinking of everything else. You don't have to shoulder everything."
She stared at the ceiling. "I don't know how not to." She admitted.
Harry pulled her down to lay her head in his lap. "Then we learn. Together, and when you start spiralling again, I'll confiscate everything."
"I have my ways into talking you into things," Hermione mumbled as he ran his fingers through her hair, immediately relaxing her.
"I can't undo the years that I wasn't here, but I'm here now, Hermione. I'm not going to run again. I'm in this for life," Harry told her.
Hermione swallowed hard.
"You don't have to carry me anymore. Let me carry you sometimes," Harry told her.
Hermione turned to look up at him, "We just had our first fight."
Harry snorted, "As far as fights go, that was pretty rubbish."
Hermione chuckled as she kissed his leg. "With our stubbornness, we'll get better."
"Hey, we had a fight," Harry stated. "Fights mean makeup sex, right?"
Hermione laughed, "How about a bath instead? I'd probably fall asleep during it at this point."
Harry scooped her up, "I'll make sure you don't drown. I have a history of that, you know. Rescuing you from water."
Hermione snorted, "Nearly got yourself killed in the process."
Harry set her down to start the water, "Details, details."
~*~ 15th September 2003 ~*~
Per Harry's firm insistence, Hermione was on a three-day hiatus from translations. After what she deemed 'The First Official Row', they had agreed that on days she worked on wedding planning, they were only for wedding planning. Days that she worked on translations were work days. No more stacking and going between the two at the same time, adding more tension to her already tight shoulders.
She still felt slightly tense about the whole situation.
The delivery man had just dropped off the new releases, and Hermione found herself in the stock room inventorying the boxes before her lunch and appointment with Neville.
Opening the first box, it was filled with hard covers mostly. A few special editions, and they had thrown in two signed copies to use as a promotion for an author that she'd need to log separately. Adding them one by one into the system, she noted the quantities of each, then moved on to the second box.
The second box was mostly children's books, but at the bottom, there was a gardening guide that Hermione knew Neville would enjoy. After submitting the second box, she opened the third.
There was a note saying that the newest New York Times releases were delayed. Most of what remained were Harlequin romance books and other primarily women's literature. Towards the bottom, her fingers brushed thick brown paper.
Hermione lifted it carefully and checked the packing slip. All the other books were on it, with nothing missing. On the paper in bold letters were the words PRIVACY SHIELD.
"What the hell?" Hermione wondered. With a glance at the stockroom door, she tore the paper from the cover. And froze.
The Complete Manual of Sexual Positions: A Sensual Guide to Lovemaking. Third Edition.
Hermione felt her entire face ignite. Looking at the door again, she nearly expected her Aunt Guinevere to burst through them and start judging. Flipping to the back cover, Hermione shook her head, "This has to be a mistake."
Biting her lip, intellectual curiosity won, and she opened it. And her jaw dropped before she reached the second page.
It was thorough. With vivid, real pictures and illustrations that were anatomically correct.
"Oh my god," she breathed out, flipping to another page. "There is no way I ordered this."
She skimmed through the pages, half appalled, half fascinated. Then she stopped at the section named: Sitting and Squatting (Opposing).
Mouth wide open in confusion, Hermione tilted the book slightly, trying to figure out the picture. The man was lying on his back, his legs bent upward, while the woman sat on the back of his legs as she held onto his calves.
"How the hell would that work?" she muttered, looking on the next page to see the same position reversed. The man was sitting on the woman's legs. She stared at it. "No fucking way is that possible."
"What?"
Hermione screamed, and the book flew from her hands and smacked the floor. "Matt!"
Six foot three, employee Matt stood in the doorway, eyes wide. Then looked at her suspiciously. "What were you reading?"
Hermione scrambled, diving for the book. Shoving it back in the box, she hastily covered it with the paper. "Nothing!" she squeaked, her voice much too high to be normal.
Matt's grin widened. "It was something naughty, wasn't it?"
Hermione shoved the box under the table. "No, what are you doing back here?"
He leaned against the doorframe. "Do we have any more of the new James Patterson?"
"No," she answered far too quickly before she cleared her throat. "No, they're on order. If someone is asking for a copy, take down their name, and we'll call them when they come in."
"Got it, boss," Matt said as he left the stockroom.
Hermione waited until she knew he was gone, then opened the box and removed the paper again. Pressing her lips together, she checked all the packing lists and saw none of them mentioned the book. Biting her lip, she grabbed it, straightened her blouse, shrank it, and slipped it into her pocket. Glancing at her watch, she realized it was time to head over to Blooming Blossoms.
Neville's shop always felt like stepping into an enchanted garden that was giving you a warm hug. Vines curled around the exposed beams, and buckets of fresh-cut flowers stood waiting to be chosen.
Hermione stood at Neville's workstation as Neville sorted through roses with careful, gloved hands.
"White roses as the base will give more volume to the arrangements," Neville stated as he reached for a large pink flower, "Pink ranunculus will give softness to the arrangement."
"I'd like lilies to be incorporated, if possible," Hermione told him.
Neville nodded, "Rosella's? That would take me a bit to get."
"Normal lilies are fine. It's more of a symbolic gesture," Hermione told him.
"Classic or dramatic?" Neville asked, walking over to his buckets.
"As long as they are in our colours," Hermione shrugged. "Golds, ivory, emerald accents, pinks. Nothing over the top."
Hermione watched him build an arrangement layer by layer, slowly assessing the balance of each flower.
"What do you think?" Neville asked, looking at her.
She tilted her head. "I love it."
The bell above the door tolled.
"Be right with you!" Neville called.
"No rush!" came a reply from up front.
Hermione waved him off. "Go, I have nothing until my dress appointment and maybe visiting Sirius."
Neville nodded, washing his hands before heading up front.
Hermione looked around and sat down next to her purse. Opening her bag, she saw the book that she had hastily shoved into it when she was leaving the Lily Pad. Glancing towards the open door to the front of the shop, she flipped it open.
More pictures of positions that she would never think to try on her own. She inhaled as she turned to the page: Threesome and othersomes.
She blinked as she saw a picture of a woman with two males in various positions. She stared at it way too long to be healthy. "Angelina might be a lucky woman," she mumbled, turning the book to get a closer look.
"What are you looking at?"
Hermione yelped, and the book went flying as she grabbed her chest. "Hi!"
Luna bent down and picked it up. "Oh," Luna said quietly, "Oh!"
Hermione felt her cheeks burn. "It was mistakenly sent to the shop."
Luna grinned, "And it ended up in your purse?"
Hermione groaned, "I was interested, all right? I wouldn't even know how to bring up some of those positions with Harry. I could just see it now, "Harry, darling, I found this fascinating instructional manual on sexual positions. Strictly research, of course… can I sit on your face?" He'd stare at me and look at this one here, and say something like, "I'm not sure if I can even bend that way." Then one of us would probably throw our backs out!"
Luna rotated the book upside down. "You've never sat on his face? It's very pleasurable." She looked at Hermione over the book, "I might need to buy myself a copy. Ronald would be amazing at this position here. He has a lot of upper-body strength."
"Ewww," Hermione said, trying not to imagine it. "What are you doing here anyway?"
Luna handed her the book back. "I saw you come in earlier and thought I'd say hello before your appointment and see if you wanted help," she looked at the arrangement, "Those are beautiful."
Hermione shoved the book back into her bag. "He did an amazing job. Are you able to come to the dress shop this afternoon?"
Luna nodded, "Hopefully you find the one. Mine is finally ready. They finished dyeing it."
Hermione froze, then looked at her. "You had your dress dyed? It was so pretty the way it was."
"Yes, but I didn't like the ivory," Luna stated, "It lacked imagination. Now it's beautiful."
"I cannot wait to see it," Hermione told her.
"I can't wait for Ron to see it," Luna told her with a sigh. "How is Sirius?"
Hermione smiled. "He sat in a wheelchair yesterday and made it halfway down the corridor before it was too much. He even pushed himself a bit. His arm strength is coming back faster than his legs."
Luna nodded. "No one knows what he truly experienced. Any progress continues to be amazing."
Hermione nodded. "Just being alive is progress at this point."
Neville returned, wiping his hands on a towel. "Sorry about that."
Luna turned to him, "Neville, do you think she should pick Helleborus? Would they withstand the magical surge of the binding ceremony?"
Neville looked at her, surprised. "If they are properly cared for, yes." He looked at Hermione, "You are doing the magical ceremony at the greenhouse, right?"
Hermione nodded, "Nothing large, but with the fact that it is part of the Potter property, I thought it was fitting."
Neville looked at her, "Do you mind if I go look at the location and get an idea? Maybe plant a few things?"
Hermione shrugged, "Just talk to Harry. I don't think I even have access to the former Potter Manor."
Hermione walked into the bridal salon and was thankful that it didn't look like the previous boutique.
It was as if they had stepped into someone's walk-in closet filled with bridal dresses. Soft sofas filled the room, surrounded by racks of gowns with coffee tables holding books, swatches, and catalogues.
Hermione paused as she looked around, "Now this is a place I might enjoy. It feels less posh."
Luna smiled. "The energy is kinder too."
Briar Rose squeezed Hermione's hand. "Let's go have some fun."
A kind-looking consultant with silver hair and a tape measure around her neck came through a curtain. "Welcome, loves. Which one of you is my bride?"
Hermione opened her mouth, and her throat got tight, and nothing came out. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Hermione closed her eyes.
"It's alright, dearie, I am Linda. I am here to help," Linda, her consultant, stated as she helped Hermione sit down.
Hermione sat down, swallowing hard.
"All right, what are you looking for in a dress?" Linda asked.
"I don't know," Hermione stated.
"Any idea on silhouette? Fabric? Style?" Linda asked.
"I… I don't know," Hermione whispered.
"That's perfectly fine, that is what we are here for," Linda stated, "Tell me about your ceremony."
Hermione took a shaky breath, "Our ceremony and reception are at Signet Library."
"That sounds like a fairy tale. Tell me about your future husband."
Hermione smiled, "Harry is amazing. He was my first real friend. I was… a bit of a difficult friend and classmate. I felt like I had to prove myself, and I didn't do it the right way many times. But Harry… he didn't have the greatest upbringing, and I knew he needed a friend. He saved my life before we were even actually friends." Hermione smiled, biting her lip, "Then we became each other's safe space. I knew that I could depend on him, and he could depend on me throughout school. We kept each other safe and protected. Even when he left to go travel, he was still keeping…" Hermione blinked back the tears. "He still kept me safe and cared, when he thought he had no reason to do so."
Linda smiled, "Sounds like you have a good one, and that you are completely and utterly overwhelmed."
Hermione chuckled, wiping her eyes, "Yes. Harry started his new job, we decided that we would get married in less than four months, our daughter started school, and I have a store to run."
"Well, we have you covered, and I have a good feeling about finding what you need here today," Linda said as she stood up. "Sit here, browse our collections at your own pace. I'll get everyone some champagne and something to eat. Brides make better decisions with food in their bellies."
Moments later, Hermione had a glass of champagne in one hand and was flipping through a lookbook. Hermione sighed, "I'm a failure to brides everywhere."
Luna grabbed a grape from the food provided. "Brides everywhere feel this way."
"I'm serious. I had a vision for the venue, but shouldn't the dress be something I've imagined since I was young and thirteen?" Hermione asked.
"Were you imagining your wedding at 13?" Luna asked.
"No, I was studying and… well, petrified," Hermione stated.
Luna laid her hand on top of Hermione's. "It's going to be all right."
Hermione sighed, looking at the book. "I just want to feel like myself in one of these dresses. I don't want to be swallowed by tulle and silk. I want to walk to Harry and feel normal."
"So, you are very grounded," Linda stated, "I have ideas."
Hermione took a shaky breath as she disappeared into the racks.
Luna sipped her champagne, "You know nerves are normal, right?"
Hermione groaned as Briar Rose went to look through the racks. "I'm not nervous, not really. I just didn't expect this big production. I wanted something small and intimate, and never did I think I would get the library. Now it's all falling into place way faster than I thought it would. This is the last piece that relies on me to get it right."
Linda returned with three gown bags draped over her arm. "I found three styles that I think you will love. Come with me."
Hermione and Luna followed her to the dressing room in the back. After stripping down to her knickers and bra, Luna helped her into the first dress.
It was structured like a corset with boning on top that flared out like a regal ball gown with more layers of tulle than Hermione was comfortable in.
Luna traded places with her mother as Hermione tried on the second dress, which was a mermaid gown made of silk that Hermione felt entirely too constricted in, and Briar Rose had to talk her out of a panic attack. When putting the third dress on, Hermione realized that her breasts could not hold up a strapless gown as it quickly dropped over them.
Hermione held it up as she stood in front of the mirror.
"What do you think?" Briar Rose asked.
"Well, strapless is a no, I'm having to hold this up," Hermione sighed, "This is hopeless, Mum."
A gentle knock came on the door. "Can I come in?" Luna asked.
Hermione nodded, and Briar Rose slid the lock open, then stepped out to let Luna slip in with a bag over her arm.
"While that is a beautiful dress, it's not you," Luna stated.
Hermione groaned, "I know. But what IS me? I don't know!"
Luna hung up the garment bag, "I was browsing the racks and found this. It's a size bigger than you need, but they can alter it easily."
Hermione stepped out of the dress she was wearing and placed it back on the hanger. Pulling the zipper down slowly as Luna put the other dress away, the lace came into view.
"Lace?" Hermione asked, "Luna, lace isn't my thing."
"I know you think that, but just humour me, please?" Luna asked, "To me, it just screamed you."
Hermione sighed. "Fine, but if I look like a doily, I'm taking it off."
With Luna's help, Hermione carefully stepped into the dress after Luna had unbuttoned it. It had a sweetheart neckline that hit her chest in a way that accentuated it without being over the top. Sliding her arms into the lace sleeves, the fabric settled differently on her body.
Hermione held the front against herself as Luna began fastening the long row of buttons down the back. The fabric did not feel heavy or restricting. She nearly did a slight twist to see how the skirts moved when Luna stated, "Hold still." She stopped.
"Okay," Luna stated.
Hermione turned toward the mirror and nearly forgot to breathe at her reflection.
Lace sleeves with tiny roses in delicate patterns, traced down her arms, intertwined in tiny vines. The neckline framed her collarbone and made it look like she actually had cleavage. The bodice was fitted, without being restrictive, showing her shape delicately. The skirt did not restrict her body in any way or flare out, making it look larger. Instead, the inner fabric laid smooth against her skin, feeling silky, and the lace flowed straight and soft as if it had been poured onto her.
She looked… she looked like a bride. She looked like one of the brides on the cover of the romance novels she stocked.
Luna peeked around her shoulder. "Are you seeing what I imagined?"
Hermione's fingers traced over the neckline to where the sleeves started and traced the embroidered vines. "I don't want to try anything else on."
Luna grinned. "See, I know you better than you think."
Before she could open her mouth to protest, Luna had opened the door. "Briar Rose! I think we found it."
"Let me see!" Briar Rose yelled from somewhere in the store.
Hermione carefully gathered the skirts and stepped out of the dressing room just as her mother came through the curtained area.
Briar Rose gasped as she saw her. "Oh, Hermione… you are so beautiful!" she said as her voice wobbled and she placed her hand over her mouth. "Ignore me."
Linda walked into the room smiling, "Trust your friends, they know you sometimes better than yourself, and this time she was absolutely right. Let me grab my clips and pins, then we will see where we need to take it in."
Hermione nodded, spotting the full-length mirrors. Lifting the hem higher, she walked closer to it.
Seeing her full reflection, Hermione shook her head as she let go of the lace, and it fell around her feet. "It doesn't seem real."
Briar Rose wiped her eyes. "You are going to knock Harry's socks off."
Her pulse fluttered low in her throat as she swallowed, imagining him seeing her for the first time. Smoothing her hands over the lace, she smiled as she felt less anxious for the first time since the whole wedding process started.
She bit her lip, "Yes, this is it."
She had her dress. Now everything else would fall into place.
~*~ 17th September 2003 ~*~
Hermione looked up from her notebook at the hospital wall, spotting the clock, and dropped her pen. "Bloody hell!"
"What?" Sirius asked, confused.
"I have thirty minutes to get home and across town to Rosella's school," she told him, shoving the scrolls back into her bag.
"No need to rush, you can apparate," Sirius stated.
"It's a Muggle school, no, I can't!" She hissed, grabbing her coat.
Sirius motioned her to the door. "Go, we will finish this translation tomorrow."
"Bye!" she yelled, hurrying to the door.
Twenty minutes later, she was rushing down her stairs, tucking her blouse into her skirt, twisting her hair into something that looked respectable as she ran out the door.
By the time she reached the school car park, it was nearly full, and it was two minutes past the start time of the event.
"Sorry!" she yelled as she squeezed into a parking space, cutting another car off.
Jumping out of the car, she hurried across the lot and spotted Harry and Rosella sitting on a bench outside the school entrance.
"Everything okay?" he asked as she approached.
Hermione leaned down and kissed him. "Lost track of time. Sirius managed to sit up in his wheelchair for an entire hour today. He saw the scrolls that I was translating, and since he studied runes too, we started working on them together."
Harry smiled as he stood. "Good."
Hermione turned to Rosella and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "How are you today, Rose?"
"I learned about word families today," Rosella told her, "But all they are, are words that rhyme with each other, Mumma."
Hermione smiled down at her as Harry opened the door for them. "Yes, that is exactly what they are."
Rosella scrunched up her nose. "I could do that in my sleep."
Harry barked out a laugh, which made both Hermione and Rosella glare at him.
"What?" He asked.
"Don't even say it," Hermione warned him.
Rosella tugged on their hands. "Come on! I have to show you everything!"
She dragged them through the school halls, pointing everything out with enthusiasm.
"This is the loo. This is the hall. Here is the office. I don't want to go there. This is the pencil machine, and it has erasers too!" Rosella told them, "That is the music room."
They followed her as she gave them the grand tour. "Classroom, classroom… another classroom," she said, leading them down a set of stairs. "That is the music room, and that is the gymnasium. I don't like running."
"You get that from me," Hermione stated, making Harry laugh as they reached the end of a hallway with a stairwell.
Together they walked up the stairs to Rosella, looking around, "Classroom…loo… I don't know… classroom." She continued.
Eventually, they reached a small library filled with slightly worn and older books.
Hermione paused, scanning them and mentally noting to donate several boxes of children's books from the store.
"Honey," Hermione stated, looking down at her, "While this tour is lovely, I know that your classroom is downstairs."
Rosella laughed, "Well, you've been there. It's downstairs next to the canteen."
Harry chuckled, "Can you show us again?"
Rosella nodded, leading them down the stairs.
Passing the canteen, they stopped in front of Room Four. Inside the classroom, buzzed with chatting parents and excited children.
"Wondered where you two were."
Hermione turned to see MacKenzie walking toward them. Hermione smiled at her. "Harry's uncle is in the hospital, and I've been keeping him company. We started talking, and I completely lost track of time."
MacKenzie glanced at Harry. "At your hospital?"
Harry nodded. "He's doing much better now, thankfully."
"He was sitting upright in his wheelchair for nearly an hour today. Last week, that would have dropped his blood pressure." Hermione stated.
Rosella pulled Harry away towards a group of her friends.
MacKenzie crossed her arms, "I feel like we never see each other anymore. How's the wedding planning going?"
Hermione grinned. "I got my dress."
MacKenzie's eyes widened. "You did?"
"You'll have to come over and see it."
MacKenzie watched as Harry crouched down in front of the kids to speak to them. "He's good with them."
Hermione smiled. "He really is." She glanced around, "Where's your husband?"
MacKenzie bit her lip. "Not here."
Hermione picked up on her shift in tone. "Is everything okay?"
MacKenzie's cheerful expression flickered before she carefully replaced it. "No, but we'll be fine."
Hermione studied her for a moment. "Breakfast tomorrow at my house."
MacKenzie gave a grateful nod. "Thanks."
She walked away from Hermione before she could ask anything more.
Hermione headed over to Harry and Rosella just in time to hear Rosella proudly announce. "This is my Mumma! She owns a bookstore!"
"Like a library?" One of the children asked.
"But with books you buy with moneys," Rosella explained.
Hermione smiled as Mrs. Vickers walked over.
"You own a bookstore?" she asked.
Hermione nodded, "Yes, if you ever need specific books, please let me know."
"Good to know. Ms. Granger, isn't it?" Mrs. Vickers asked.
"Yes," She said, taking Harry's hand, "And this is my fiancé, Harry Potter."
Harry stood and offered his free hand. "Good evening."
"And what do you do, Mr. Potter?"
"I'm a heal…. Hospital doctor," Harry said, "If you ever need someone to come speak about health or first aid, I'd be happy to help."
Mrs. Vickers smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Potter. I may take you up on that."
She glanced down at Rosella, "And Rosella is a delight to have in class. She is a very bright little girl."
"Thank you, we think so too," Hermione stated.
"It was lovely meeting you both," Mrs. Vickers said as another parent called her over.
Hermione looked down at Rosella, "Is there anyone else we should meet?"
Rosella thought for a moment. "Um… no." She looked up at them. "Can we get ice cream?"
Harry scooped her up. "You're going to turn into an ice cream cone."
Rosella burst into giggles as Harry pretended to eat her.
Hermione laughed, following them, knowing that they would be stopping by the parlour on the way home.
Preview of Chapter 50 – Circle Game
All four heads pivoted as a guttural scream echoed through the backyard as Rosella screamed, running after Teddy with the other girls following her.
Hermione jumped up as Harry did, "Yep, feral. She's turned feral. I'll get her, you get Teddy."
Harry shook his head, "No, you get Teddy. I'll get her."
Ron burst out laughing, "Watch out, Harry! When she is high on sugar, she tends to have elbows and legs swinging!"
Hermione scooped up Teddy as he ran to her, and Harry wrapped his arms around a flailing Rosella.
"Rosella Lily! Calm down!" Harry shouted, then groaned as her heel caught him in between the legs, "Stop! What is this about?"
"Teddy said that girls can't be dragon keepers!" Rosella yelled, catching him again, this time in the stomach, making him wince, "I said they can too!"
"I think you are done with sugar tonight. How many cupcakes did you have?" Harry asked, "Tell Teddy sorry."
Rosella rolled her eyes dramatically, "I'm not sorry. I could be a dragon keeper if I wanted. Uncle Charlie said so."