Harry looked up at Hermione as she walked into the living room. The women had been here for about 2 weeks at this time, they had been close as ever. Harry wasn't complaining either. Being able to protect her made him feel better.

"Hermione?" He said as the women sat down in the couch across from him, he closed his book. She had just returned from the minstry.

"Can we go see Fred and George tomorrow?" She asked slowly. The Twins had been sending letters, but considering they were currently fighting their brother, sister, and apparently Molly about proceeding to be friends with Harry and Hermione after everything. It turned out, the women had indeed knew about everything that Ginny and Ron had been talking about.. she had been planning it since Harry's parents had died, which was completely and utterly fucked.

They had ended up at Gringotts as well, about a week after the incident. It turned out the they had multiple compulsion on their person. Harry had more because, Dumbledore had to ensure that Harry became the hero he wanted. As well as a marrige contract to marry Ginny. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought about getting the test done when he went to Gringotts to claim his lordships a year prior. From what Harry knew, Dumbledore had promised Ginny that she would be the next lady Potter.

Hermione hadn't exactly had as much compulsion because she was never seen as a big pawn. She was simply Harry's friend. Although, unlike Ronald she had kept him in place, helped him whenever he needed it. Ron had never, always looked for some reason to turn against Harry. Which know this whole thing made more sense.

"Yes, I'm sure they'll be happy to see you. They've missed you quite a bit and couldn't believe that their family would ever do something so stupid." Harry said with a light smile, Hermione returned it.

"Should we... maybe gather this evidence and use it against the Wealseys'?" Hermione asked slowly. She had been thinking about that quite a lot the last week but she really couldn't decided if they should just let it go and hope to never get caught up with one of them again or they go to press charges.

Harry tooked a deep breath and laid the book on the side table. "I think we should. I don't want to get caught up with them in something else. Only Molly, Ginny, and Ron will get in trouble. Bill and Charlie had only ever bee nice... and poor Arthur.. I don't think he had any idea." He said the last part a little slow.

Hermione nodded, "Ok.." She said. "We should probably contact with Pius.." She said slowly. The man had returned to his post properly once it was found out that he had been under the imperious curse caused by Yaxley.

Harry nodded and sat up a bit. "Yes. Can you do that tomorrow?" He asked sweetly. "Pleaseee?"

"Why not just send him a letter?" Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because... you're going to work tomorrow, it'll just be easier." Harry said pleadingly.

Hermione sighed. "Fine... go get your damn Gringotts papers." She said with narrowed eyes.

Harry smiled inncoently and then got up. He disappeared down the hallway before he returned with the test's and proof of the Weasleys' compulsion charms, and their theft from Harry's Potter vaults, they had never managed to get into the Black or Peverell vaults. But, even alone, the Potter's were one of the richest families. Because they had not access to the Black Vault after Sirius' death, Ginny had been desperate to marry him right after Hogwarts. Oh how he was glad he choose to wait.

Harry still believe that their relationship had simply been forced. Now that he truly thought abou tit, he never loved Ginny. He may have had a crush on her for a little. But she had just een some crazy girl with a big crush on the famous dude. If it wasn't for the chamber of secrets, he didn't think they would have ever happened. Or been friends; she would have simply been his best friend's sister. Which probably would have pissed the Weasley's off and Ron would have stopped being friends with him.

Either that or tried to literally force Harry onto Ginny. Or Dumbledore could've possibly went to resorting to love potions to give the Weasley's what he promised.

Hermione snatched the papers and placed them in the folder that contain her own papers, she glared at Harry for a few moments before sighing. She couldn't stay mad at him when he was giving his inncoent face.

"Thank you Hermione!" Harry sighed once the women had stopped glaring at him like she was about to kill him. Which wasn't a pretty glare at it, it was quite terrifying. She would always be scary to him.

Hermione finally smile a bit at the man and nodded. "Of course, never say I never did anything for you!" She hissed out.

Harry laughed fondly and then stood up. He rounded the coffee table and plopped down besides the women. Harry pulled her into a hug.

Hermione blushed lightly and melted in Harry's warmth. Harry smiled softly, laying his head on top of hers as she leaned against him.

-SL-

"Pius..." Hermione said as she stepped into the man's office. She had never really spoke to him but then again she never had a reason to.

"Hermione Granger?" Pius Thicknesse said slowly. Honestly surprised. The witch never really showed her face around him, he wasnt sure if it was because she advoided him for his involoment with Voldemort, or if it was because she simply never came over to this floor of the ministry. She clearer had a reason for being here.

Hermione nodded and walked up to the desk. She had taken the time of resorting the papers, two seperate folders from both Harry and herself.

"What can I do for you today Granger?" Pius said slowly.

Hermione sat down the folders. "Myself and Harry Potter want to start cases against Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley, and Ginevra Weasley."

To say Pius was shocked was an understatement. "Aren't they like.. your guys family?" It was common knowledge that Ronald Weasley was with Hermione Granger. Ginny Weasley was with Harry Potter, the famous boy-who-lived.

"Not anymore." Hermione said simply to answer. She pushed the papers closer to him. "It's both Harry and my papers..." She said slowly. He grabbed the papers and started reading over them. "They're from Gringotts result."

Pius gulped, reading some of this was not pleasant. Knowing it came from the goblins, it meant that it didn't have a good chance of being a lie either. He had never really like Dumbledore.. but these papers proved he was not all he was remember to be. "Thank you Granger.." He said slowly.

Hermione nodded, her face was blank. "I'll start on it immediately." She nodded once again and left quickly.

Well that answered his question, she obviously didn't really like him.

-SL-

Hermione sighed deeply when she finally got back to Harry's home three hours later. She had went to Pius during her lunch break at 1 P.M. She walked into the wards, feeling them and her magic settled to them as usual. Noticing her as the secret keeper.

Hermione walked into the house and saw Harry once again at the armchair in the living room with a book and tea. "You know, once I would have found it crazy for you to even be found holding a damn book." She said.

"Yes, I know... it really most be some crazy shit." Harry snarked back and closed the book. He set it down as Hermione moved to sit across was him as usual. He took a sip of his tea. Hermione stared at him with an raised eyebrow. Harry rolled his eyes, "So how'd it go?"

Hermione's brain stopped for a minute and then she realized what Harry was talking about. "Oh it went alright. He agreed to start the case,"

"Wow." Harry said. He had never exactly been fond of the guy but he accepted him as the Head, well... he didn't really have a choice.

"Yes. I think I made it clear that.. I don't exactly like him." Hemrione said slowly.

"You left extremely fast didn't you?" Harry said with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course not." Hermione rolled her eyes and would never admit it but she was pouting.

"Well... we're going to see the Twins in about an hour and a half. Since we obviously cannot trust to eat in front of them, we're going to go see them at the shop." Harry said, which they both knew was a completely honest truth. Eating in front of the Twins was a bad idea, you never knew what kind of tricks they had up their sleeves, literally.

Hermione nodded, "Alright." She said with a nod. Hermione got up to change out of her work clothes while Harry decided to return to his book. He liked books now that he was out of school. They both wouldn't be surprised if that was because of Dumbledore and Ronald.

-SL-

"Hermione!" George exclaimed.

"Harrikins!" Fred exclaimed and crushed them into one bit hug.

Hermione smiled a little and then Harry said, "I don't think we can breath!"

"Sorry." The said together, not sounding apologetic at all.

"It's fine." Harry said with a slight playful glare.

"Don't be all angry Harry," Hermione said patting his back.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"So Hermione - " The twins turned to her.

"are you okay?" Fred said.

Hermione blinked and sighed. She still didn't know if she was. Being with Harry was really helping with her healing heart though, she was glad to have the man. Being around him made her feel awfully calm. Unlike Harry, she had loved Ronald. Harry had long since accepted that he didn't love Ginny outside of sisterly love.

"Yes... or I will be." Hermione said with a slight smile.

The Twin both smiled and the dragged her away to show her some pranks, hopefully she wouldn't use them against Harry.

Harry decided that helping was the only thing he could do so he joined Lee.

-SL-

"I'm guessing you had fun?" Harry said with a smile as they finally walked out of the shop.

Hermione intertwined their hands unconsciously, Harry didn't want to say anything about. There was a strange comfort to it.

"I did. Thank you Harry." She said softly as they walked side by side.

"You asked for it. I would never try to lock you up." Harry said honestly. Locking someone up would feel wrong, especially if it was Hermione he was doing it to.

"I know." She said honestly, her voice soft. "Just.. thank you for coming." She mumbled with an honest smile.

Harry nodded. "Of course, even if they didn't seem like it. They probably wanted to make sure we were both still alive, so it was good to go with you. I haven't really been out except for work."

"I'm not keeping you at the house, am I?" She looked concerned, Harry knew she would never be ok if she knew he wasn't going out because of her. Like he didn't trust her or something.

"No." Harry said instantly. "I just only ever went out with Ginny and your guys for our weekly dinners. I mean I visited Luna, Neville, and the Twins as well every once it a while. Hermione... I've never really had a social life."

Hermione chuckled, "I guess that isn't a complete life." She said in all honesty.

Harry smiled and nodded. "The boy-who-lived. Twice. Is not a social butterfly. As much as I might wanna be," Harry said.

Hermione rolled her eyes and they finally stop at the apparation spot. Hermione looked down at their intertwined fingers and then blushed, softly removing her hand. Harry did nothing to stop it because he didn't want her to feel rushed whatsoever.

"Sorry," She squeaked lightly. She would never admit it but she had indeed squeaked.

"It ok Hermione." Harry said softly. "Let's go home," Harry apparated the two home and then they collasped on the couch tiredly. Hermione unconsciously moved towards Harry and it didn't take long for their sleepiness to fall. Hermione ended up snuggled into Harry's side for most of the night.

-TBC

[ 2080 words ]