—————A—————

She looked at the doorway after hearing a knock and gave Harry a small smile as he stood there.

"Can I come in?" he asked, and Aurora waved to the bed before turning back to continue unpacking. "Gotta say, kinda don't mind you being here. Means Draco and I get to share a room."

"How long before he transfigured one of the beds larger and conveniently made the other one disappear?" she asked with a smirk, making Harry chuckle.

"Er, probably about a minute of being in the bedroom. Two, maybe, if you consider the time it took to do the spellwork," he replied, and as Aurora closed the drawer she was tucking sweaters in, he cleared his throat. "Look, I wanted to say that I talked to Neville."

Aurora paused, remaining perfectly still as Harry let the silence linger.

"What did you say?" she asked eventually.

"What really happened," he replied. "That we'd known for a while what was going to happen. That the only thing we didn't know was who the student Death Eater was."

"Yeah," she said, unsure what else to say.

Harry shifted on the bed behind her, making the blankets rustle and the frame creak. "He said it doesn't change anything for him," he eventually confessed, and that relief-tinged heartbreak washed over her. "Rory, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she said, closing the drawer and turning to face Harry. He looked genuinely apologetic, which only made her laugh. "None of this is your fault."

"Sort of feels like it. Maybe if I hadn't chased after your dad...."

"Then the plan wouldn't have gone the way it had to," she replied. "Dad needed a spy, his best bet was Mum, Lupin, or Sirius, as any of them can disguise themselves with a spell. If you didn't tear through the corridors screaming about him being a murderer, then Mum or Lupin couldn't have faked their deaths, and it would have made it impossible for them to become spies."

"I know," Harry sighed. "But... if we had just told them all beforehand."

"No," she said, joining Harry on the end of her bed. "Luna understood because she's always seen the bigger picture. She's always been able to see Dad, no matter what sort of front he put on. But Neville...." She frowned. "If it hadn't been for me, for Draco, you probably would still believe the worst of my father, too. And that's okay, really. He isn't a kind man, but Neville knew the truth, just as you did. And he chose to believe what he sees. "

"Yeah, you have a point," Harry conceded. "But I still hoped that... well, when Gin said you two broke up and why, I hoped that if I talked to him about it, he'd come around. But his family really believed in Dumbledore, especially when he tried to keep Neville's parents safe when they didn't know who Riddle would choose. His family will always side with Dumbledore, no matter what any of the history or anything says."

"It's good to have someone you can put that much faith in," Aurora sighed.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "And I might have been right there with them if I hadn't learned firsthand how much he tried to control my life."

Aurora leaned her head against Harry's shoulder, and he put his arm around her. "I want to go back to the days of playing marbles on the playground and telling your cousin to shove his pig face in the mud."

Harry chuckled. "But then we wouldn't have the others."

"I'd still have Draco, and I wouldn't have had to deal with the prat phrase."

"He's still a prat," Harry chuckled.

"But he's your prat," Aurora teased, her head jostled by Harry's half-hearted attempts to dislodge her. She laughed along with him, and it felt good. "Life was just easier, then," she said once they calmed. "I knew about magic, but I didn't think anything that's happened would. It seems insane that it started."

"And it's only going to get worse," Harry sighed. And since she couldn't argue, she rested her head on his shoulder again.

—————H—————

It was harder than it should have been to live without her husband. Severus couldn't leave Voldemort's side for very long before they would question where he disappeared to, and the Aurory still had questions about his involvement in Dumbledore's death. And she, well, she wasn't supposed to be alive.

Hermione also desperately missed her children, but she knew they were safe with Sirius. Minerva may be their godmother, but that would be the first place anyone would look for them. With Grimmauld Place still Secret-Kept, it was the safest place for them.

She looked up at the towering buildings and sighed. How she had longed to see New York, yet now that she was here, she found it too busy, too bright, too loud. Maybe she'd spent too much time in the wizarding world, and that was why she felt the city lacked magic. Still, there were parts of it that were magical, and that's where she was headed. She ducked into a dark little alley, following the signs to her destination. When she arrived at the wand shop, she knocked on the door three times and waited.

A moment later, a small, dark-haired woman opened the door. "How can I help you?" she asked, looking Hermione over.

"I need a new wand," she said bluntly, watching the woman's eyes widen.

"What happened to yours?" she asked suspiciously.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's not confiscated," she said as she pulled out her old one. "But I can't use it back in Britain. And I don't dare use it here."

The woman nodded in understanding. "You've got a problem over there, we heard. Just do us a favor and keep it there. We don't need another Grindelwald coming over to mess around here."

"That's the plan," Hermione said.

"Your old wand?" the witch asked as she beckoned Hermione inside.

"Vine wood, dragon heartstring, ten and three-quarter inches," Hermione said, handing it to the witch to examine.

"An Ollivander wand, too. It's a shame you'll have to give this up, even temporarily." The witch handed Hermione back her wand, and then ambled behind the counter. "Now, let's get you set up."

"How was New York?" Severus asked between peppering her lips, cheeks, and neck with kisses.

"Not as lovely as I imagined. But I have a wand. Walnut, dragon heartstring, a touch longer than my previous one," she replied, stroking his hair, his back, anywhere she could reach.

He'd been waiting for her in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, which was a wonderful surprise, considering she'd been expecting Sirius. Their reunion was quiet, as just after a heartbeat of seeing one another again, they were in one another's arms and kissing as though it had been years and not weeks since they'd parted. As if they were much younger, Hermione had wrapped her legs around his waist, and Severus had carried her upstairs, quietly closing their assigned bedroom door before soundproofing the room. They still hadn't spoken much in the two hours that followed, not until now, not until their bodies refused to act half their age.

He nipped at her neck. "Did you see any sights?"

"Not really," she sighed. "Frankly, I wanted to get the hell out of there as fast as I could. They hear a British witch they don't know and they look at me warily. Which they have every right to, given the history."

Fatigue finally got the better of him, and Severus flopped down next to her, closing his eyes. "Yes, I would imagine that would be the case," he sighed, rubbing his face. "Lucius has been released, and the others who were arrested at the Ministry. But I've been talking to him the most, because we're both fathers who haven't been able to see our children." He snorted. "Well, fathers who actually care. Nott barely paid Theo enough attention to say hello, let alone acknowledge the work he's done to get back into the Dark Lord's good graces. But Lu... I've never seen him look less than pristine. He's been out of Azkaban for three days, so I thought he'd be in his flourishing robes with his perfectly coiffed hair on the first day. But he's not. He's dressed very basically, he's only tied his hair back, and he looks awful. He wants to see Draco but knows he can't."

"Did you tell him anything?" Hermione asked, turning on her side and lightly stroking Severus' hair.

"Only that he's happy and well, that he's loved and his friends were at his side the whole year. I didn't elaborate on who those friends were or who was caring for him. I doubt Lucius ignored what he saw at the Ministry, and he had plenty of time to mull over it while locked away. Which, one would hope, was enough time to reconcile that not only is Draco in love with Potter, and that affection is mutual, but that he has sided with the Light," he sighed. "And that he has worked out my allegiance."

"But Lucius is an Occlumens."

"Yes, thankfully, and a decent one. I doubt that he'd have survived the dementors otherwise."

"You're probably right," Hermione agreed reluctantly. She waited until he met her eyes again. "I don't want to leave this bed any more than you do."

"But we have to, I know," he said, stretching to kiss her. "Doesn't mean I don't want to indulge in your company for just a little longer."

"You'll get to see your children."

"Ah, yes. Those little blighters. I suppose one could consider them a bright side on a good day."

Hermione laughed. "You missed them," she chided gently, pecking his lips one last time before getting up.

They dressed about as quickly as two thirty-somethings without any sleep could, and then left their borrowed bedroom together.

She had no idea what time it was, and when she heard the sounds of multiple young witches and wizards coming from the kitchen, she began to wonder if maybe she should have cast a tempus charm before leaving their sanctum.

The door was open a crack and she paused to see them inside: her own two flesh and blood children, the two boys she was godmother to, Sirius, Remus, and Nymphadora.

"...just facing off against my demented cousin, Draco's insane aunt. I was sure I was a goner, to be frank. She's quick and dirty, and I doubt she would have hesitated to Avada me. But I was yanked away by my jacket. Lost a couple buttons with the force of it, but I dodged the spell Bella cast."

Hermione and Severus snuck in, standing in the back, watching and listening.

"And now, I think you owe my mother a great debt, Uncle," Leonidas said solemnly. "I read about life debts, and what happened sounds like one."

"I don't doubt it, Leo. Because when Remus cast your dad's spell on your mum, her magic and mine saw it as a threat. One of the Death Eaters thought he had done it somehow, even though his aim was so off he did nothing more than break a pillar."

"Amycus always did fancy himself a bit more powerful than he really is," Severus said. Four heads whipped over in their direction.

"Dad!" Leonidas yelled, jumping out of his chair and running to embrace his father. Hermione smiled affectionately at him before looking at their daughter.

She looked so much more grown than the last time Hermione had seen her, but then maybe that was because of everything that had happened. Add to that that she would be seventeen in just four months, and Hermione smiled wistfully as she realized her eldest was essentially an adult.

Leonidas switched from Severus to her, and Hermione embraced him warmly as she watched Aurora get up to greet her father.

"I'm afraid we don't have much time," Severus said after giving his daughter a brief hug, gently handing her over to Hermione. "I need you to assemble the Order, if you could. While I know the majority of the members are aware of what was going to happen, I believe it's time we tell everyone else, and I only have a few hours."

Remus was the one who sent off his Patronus. "Do you have a plan for Hogwarts?"

"No, not officially. My installment as Headmaster won't be announced until the Dark Lord takes over the Ministry. Which is what we need to discuss. I know his plan, and I think that if we want to win, we have to forgo a battle. We're going to have to let him become the Minister's puppet master."

—————A—————

"Bloody hell, this is a big to-do, isn't it?" Aurora said as she looked around the setup the Weasleys had in their yard for the wedding. "You realize that if Muggles tried something like this, they would need days to set it up."

"Poor Muggles," Ginny mused as they sat on a fence together near the shed, watching the others work.

"Has your mother come to terms with it? With what's happening?" Aurora asked, watching as her mother helped Sirius hang garland.

"No," Ginny snorted. "She still thinks Fleur is only marrying Bill for his looks, which, well... I think being friends with Draco helped me with that bit."

"Explain," Aurora said as she frowned.

"Yes, Snape," Ginny teased, earning a smirk from her friend. "Fleur's a bit blunt. I sort of thought that back during the Triwizard Tournament, too. The way she would be very direct, as in, 'Oh no Ginny. You should wear your hair like zis. The other way makes you look twelve.' Which, well, wasn't that far off the mark at the time. But I got a bit of a taste of it. And Draco, he doesn't hide the truth, either. Doesn't sugarcoat it. I get it, so I was able to handle it when Bill started bringing her around. Mum hates it."

"But she still seems... eager for this wedding," Aurora said, eyes darting to Molly Weasley, who was directing people like a mad woman, vibrating with giddiness.

"Ah, yes. You see, Fleur sort of extended an invitation to Viktor. She felt it prudent to invite him, since Harry's an honorary Weasley and he was a fellow champion. And once Mum got wind, well." Ginny shrugged. "I think she hopes a bit of wedding madness will rub off on us all, and since Ollie and I split...."

"At least you won't be my aunt," Aurora sighed, chuckling as Ginny elbowed her.

"Aren't you two supposed to be helping me de-gnome?" Leo startled them, and Aurora looked down to see her brother scowling at them.

"We're watching them set up," Ginny replied, reaching back and helping Leo up onto the fence as Aurora moved over to make room for him.

"It seems too much work for a bonding. Why don't they just do what our parents did and just recite the bonding spell?" he asked.

"Probably because it's not very romantic," Aurora replied. "Mum and Dad got married as a way to solidify their relationship. They had the ceremony afterward for everyone else."

"This is considered romantic?" Leonidas asked, brow arched, question punctuated by Mrs. Weasley demanding the twins stop whatever it was they were doing and set things up properly.

"It will, once the ceremony starts," Ginny replied. "Maybe."

"I think it's insane," Leo said simply. "It's too much effort for virtually nothing."

"I suppose we can't argue with that," Aurora replied with a smirk.

After a bit, Ginny asked, "Have you ever thought about your own wedding?"

"No," Aurora replied. "I always figured it would be to Draco, and his mother would be in charge of it. And if I didn't marry Draco, well...."

"I did when I was little. But then, I also thought I was going to marry Harry, be a princess of the wizarding world."

Leo frowned. "How? Harry Potter isn't royalty."

"I was a child, I had fantasies," Ginny retorted, frowning at him.

"Don't mind Leo, he isn't one for that sort of thing," Aurora said, ruffling her brother's hair.

They sat for some time, quietly watching the setup. Guests would arrive soon, so they would need to get ready soon.

Ron looked like he was two seconds away from hexing himself, the way his mother went on about how the garland wasn't just so, and wasn't Draco doing a much better job? Harry was laughing nearby, doing something by hand with Fleur's younger sister.

"Do you think they forgot?" Leo asked after a time. "That the reason we're here is because the Ministry is supposed to go down this evening?"

"No," Aurora replied. "I think they're choosing to not think about it."

"It must be nice," Leo sighed. "Because with Dad there, it's all I can think about."

She didn't want to lie and say that everything would be fine. And a glance at Ginny told her she didn't want to lie either. Leo was too smart for that, anyway.

—————S—————

It was near the end of the workday at the Ministry. Severus thought it a coward's move. They could argue that Rookwood, Macnair, and many of the lower circle who worked at the Ministry would be there regardless of the time, but the Dark Lord was convinced it should be done just after working hours. He lurked in the shadows, a Disillusionment Charm in place, mask and robes on, wand at the ready. He watched people moving around, talking, mingling, not realizing that there was about to be an upheaval.

The fireplaces all flared green, making everyone waiting their turn freeze. Masked Death Eaters stepped out in synchronization, making everyone in the lines step back. Severus canceled his Disillusionment, stepping out of the shadows as a dozen other of his brethren did the same, more coming out of the hallways. It was about then the screams really began, once people registered that they were, in fact, under attack.

He shot a hex at a nameless wizard, grateful when he put up a fight, disappointed when he was easily Stunned and taken down. The Aurory was already starting to arrive, and he hated the thought that there were some about to turn on their fellow protectors.

A burning sting grazed his arm, and he turned to see a woman, tall and fierce, scowling at him. He smirked behind his mask, because she reminded him of his wife for a fleeting second. This woman wasn't Hermione, not at all, not even a little. Hermione was away from both the Ministry and the Weasleys, keeping out of sight to ensure no one would see her new disguise. Or think she was alive.

He never liked dueling women, there was a deeply ingrained sense of chivalry in his bones that made it hard for him to really point a wand at one. But he didn't have a choice, not this time. So, he engaged her, firing shots, deflecting hers, working on getting her back toward the fireplaces where she could escape.

"Stop playing, Sev," Macnair said nearby, and the witch dropped in a hue of green.

Severus whipped around and snarled at his fellow Death Eater. "I don't believe it is our Lord's wish for us to kill every witch or wizard who opposes us!"

"We need to show them how powerful we are, and what we're willing to do if they don't accept it!" Macnair retorted, and Severus rolled his eyes.

"Show how powerful we are to those that matter, not the bystanders." He turned, moving through the crowd, hexing or binding those who tried to come at him, as well as the ones dueling the other Death Eaters. They had a mission, and he knew his assignment.

—————A—————

The bonding was breathtaking, and if anyone asked, Aurora would vehemently deny that she was misty-eyed, her heart warm and aching. She hadn't expected to see so much love between them.