Ch. 1

Hermione's POV, September 2002

I almost didn't hear Harry come into my office, looking up to see him smiling at me from the doorway. A quick glance at my watch made me groan and know exactly what Harry was going to say.

"Shouldn't you be home already?" He asked as he leaned against the doorframe. "I know Ginny's supposed to be meeting you there."

I sigh and set down the papers I was looking at. "Yes. Though I suppose I can just floo to your house and pick her up. I just got caught up in this new case I have. It's been an interesting one."

"You'll have to tell me about it at breakfast this weekend," Harry said with a smile.

"You know I can't give details of the cases," I replied sternly.

"Just like how I can't give details of my missions, and yet you and Ginny always know where I'm going and what I'm doing," He retorted as he sat in one of my chairs and clasped his hands over his stomach, leaning back with a smug grin. "I already know that all of your cases are about werewolves. Just tell me if I need to worry about them and I'll be satisfied."

I shook my head at him. "You're ridiculous. Have you heard from Ron at all?"

"He left the office already, so I can only assume he's waiting at your apartment for you," Harry shrugged. "How's the wedding planning going?"

I groaned inwardly and put my head in my hands. "It's been so difficult, Harry. He's already said we need to put the wedding off so our original date is no longer correct on the invites, and he doesn't seem excited about it at all. Anytime I try to bring it up, he gets quiet and only gives me one or two word answers, when I really just want his input. It's his wedding too, after all."

Harry gave me a concerned, sympathetic look. "Do you want me to talk to him? Or better yet, have Ginny talk to him?"

I laughed quietly. "No, it's okay. I'm hoping that we can talk about it tonight, since we're supposed to plan. But since your wife is joining us, I suspect that we will be able to finally get more done because you know she won't let him slip out of the planning."

"Very true," Harry said with a smile. Then he stood up and put his hands in his pockets, eyeing me suspiciously. "You look tired, 'Mione. Have you been sleeping alright?"

If anyone else had asked me that, I would have jinxed them. But I knew Harry didn't mean anything bad by it. I sighed and cast a silencing spell on my doorway to make sure no one passing by would hear me. "I have been having some nightmares lately. Nothing serious, but it's been disrupting my sleep a lot."

The concerned look returned in his eyes. "Do I need to get you some Sleeping Draught? I have an extra couple of bottles at my house."

I waved him off and gave him a small smile. "It's alright, I'll be okay. It's just more bothersome than anything."

"I know, but at the same time I know you're also working your arse off, and you can't really afford to miss a few nights of sleep." Harry was giving me a stern look now, almost reminding me of McGonagall looking down at me over the rim of her glasses.

With a sigh, I stood up as well and started to gather my things as I said, "If they carry on through the weekend, I'll let you know. But they've only happened maybe once or twice a week for the past month or so."

"The past " Harry exclaimed. "Hermione, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I didn't want you to worry like you are!" I replied. "Harry, you have your own problems to worry about and I don't want to add to them. Just promise me you won't tell Ginny or Ron."

After a few moments, Harry nodded. "I just worry about you, and you know that Ginny's not going to be happy if she finds out."

"Well the only way she will find out would be if you tell her, because I sure as hell am not going to tell her," I said as I finished gathering my things.

Harry walked with me as we made our way out of the elevator and to the fireplaces. We flooed to Grimmauld Place where he and Ginny were living. They had gotten married the summer before and spent all of Ginny's off season renovating the old house. Ron and I had helped them when we could, mostly with trying to figure out how to remove the horrible portrait of Walburga Black. Ginny was finally able to blast it off the wall by destroying the entire wall itself, and she took the piece of wall that the picture was attached to, and after casting a Disillusionment charm on it, chucked it happily into the sea while she was at practice in Holyhead. Needless to say, the rest of the renovation went smoothly.

"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed when we appeared in the fireplace.

After I stepped out of the fireplace and dusted myself off, I was grabbed by Ginny and pulled into a hug that rivaled her mother's. I laughed and heard Harry grumble behind us, "Not like I'm your husband or anything."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I see you every day."

"And her every other day," Harry retorted.

I laughed and Ginny let go of me to give her husband a hug and kiss. "Better?"

"Much," Harry grinned.

Ginny shook her head and then went to the couch, grabbing a large bag. "Alright, see you at your place, Hermione?"

I nodded and the red head disapparated. I gave Harry a hug and disapparated as well, stumbling slightly as I landed on my carpet. Ginny was already unpacking her bag, pulling out a couple bottles of wine and food containers.

I set my bag down and went to change. My apartment wasn't exactly large, but it was big enough for just me. Ron would spend the night sometimes, but he mostly lived at the Burrow. I didn't mind though, since my parents frowned upon the two of us living together before we were married now that we were officially together. They didn't seem to mind much when we weren't together, which I found amusing.

"Red or white, Hermione?" I heard Ginny call from my living room.

"You know I'm not picky!" I called back, pulling my coat off.

I heard a bottle pop open shortly after and quickly changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. When I reentered the living room, I saw Ginny had changed as well into a pair of maroon Gryffindor sweatpants, leaving her black t-shirt.

"I'm surprised those aren't Harpies sweatpants," I teased.

She gave an annoyed sigh. "Well I was going to bring those but Harry just had to rip them the last time we had fun."

"Must have been recent then," I said, grabbing two glasses from the kitchen, which was only separated by a wall from the living room.

"This morning," Ginny stated. "Other than that, it was fun!"

I didn't respond, looking down at my ring and thinking about the last time Ron and I had any fun. Ginny must have known what I was thinking when I came back with the glasses, and she was eyeing my curiously. "Everything alright?"

"Oh yes," I said, giving her a smile. "Just a little jealous."

"Of what?" She asked. Then her eyes went wide before an annoyed expression took over her face. "Has he not been doing anything?"