Chapter Text
It was bitter cold, and the winter air nipped at Hermione’s nose as her boots crunched in the hardened snow. She pulled her cloak closer around her and bent her head down, knowing the way by heart. She had been coming to the Burrow for years. As a child, but now as Ron’s fiancé . They had been engaged for several years now. She knew it was an extended time, but they wanted her to finish her education and start their careers before settling down.
Ron had told her he wanted to start a family as soon as they bonded, so he kept delaying the wedding. Sometimes, she thought he only wanted her for who she was and what she could give him. She could offer him a life of comfort for several lifetimes. She was the granddaughter of Hector Dagworth-Granger, and her grandmother was a Roiser. They were wealthy, and after the war, they contacted her when she couldn’t reverse her parents' memories.
It was nice having a family, someone to share her success and triumphs with. But also her sadness. Ron was never good at lending his shoulder when she needed a good cry. He would pat her awkwardly on the shoulder and start talking about other things. Most of the time, it was fucking Quidditch.
She worked hard after graduating from Hogwarts, returning for her eighth year. She could have gone to the Ministry, but that didn’t call to her. It was healing that did; now she was a healer in the muggle and magical worlds. She had her wealth and didn’t have to depend on her grandparents, but that didn’t stop them from opening a vault for her and naming her their heir. Her father was a squib, and so was her mother, from the Fawley family.
She had nothing to do with the Fawley. She was from the wrong side of the blanket, and they didn’t want to admit they had a non-magical child. That was fine. Her grandparents, Hector and Sophie, more than made up for it. She lived with them for the time being. When she wed, she had her Manor waiting for her close to her grandparents that was meant for their heir. They had built it when her grandmother was pregnant with her father.
They had raised him the best they could until he was five. Then, they found a lovely muggle family to adopt him. They didn’t wish to put him in the magical equivalent of Wool’s; they treated the squibs there horribly, often teaching them to be less than house-elves. Her father’s parents and her parents died shortly before the war started. Car accident. It was awful, and their loss had so saddened her, but she had a war to win.
She rolled her shoulders and shook out her hands. She had been so busy lately that she hadn’t seen anyone in weeks, including Ron. Of course, they spoke several times daily on the new cell phone she gave him and the rest of the Weasleys and Harry. But she had a job to do. Sadly, there was a new marriage law taking effect because the magical birthrate was so low. She disagreed with the law, but Kingsley assured her that the matches were done by the Unspeakables, making them perfect matches. She was sure to mention that the twins were magically linked, and some other twins may be as well, and to consider that. They would have to form a triad.
She didn’t have to worry about being matched. She and Ron were together. It was some of the other Weasleys she worried about. The twins, Charlie, and Percy. They were all unattached. The same went for Harry, her best friend. She had been examining patients for months to check their magical cores and ability to procreate. Some were disgruntled with her, but some seemed excited about bonding. She had been furious with Kingsley for enacting the ancient law and playing her part in it, but he had explained that their magic was dying; the magical community was not bonding or procreating. To put it simply, their magic was dying. He was right, of course, but that didn’t mean she liked it.
Hermione pushed her hair away with a huff and blocked all those problems from her mind. She stomped her boots on the mat before the door; a blast of warm air hit her as the door whipped open, and Charlie Weasley was there with the twins, grinning down at her.
“Hermione!” the twins greeted with enthusiasm. She had a wonderful relationship with the twins. She had saved Fred from the falling wall by forming a shield around her and Fred. Sadly, before they could clear the debris, her shield faltered, and Fred suffered a broken left leg and pelvis. She had a broken pelvis, and all her ribs on her right side were cracked. They were both lucky to be alive, and they all knew it.
Since the war, she had become closer to the Weasleys. It helped, considering she was engaged to Ron.
Charlie was the first to yank her into the house, pull her into his arms and twirl her around. It was the same each time she saw him. She noticed that Charlie was a very loveable Weasley. It certainly didn’t hurt that he was fit, too.
His muscles flexed under her hands as she grabbed his biceps to steady herself. She couldn’t help the joyous laugh that bubbled from her chest. She would miss Charlie while he was away in Romania. He was going back for a year to settle the reservation and transfer some of their dragons to the reserve in England. She had helped coordinate that for Charlie. Her grandparents had miles of acres they were doing nothing with, and that touched plenty of fields and mountains. It is a perfect place for Dragons to live.
Charlie had been so excited; most nights, he would go over and have supper with her grandparents even though she wasn’t there. Tonight was his farewell party. He would be returning, of course, but he would be gone for a year, which saddened her.
“Boys! Let her through,” Molly screeched. “Put her down, Charlie!”
Hermione giggled as the twins whined, and Charlie kissed her on the cheek before setting her down on her feet.
She was breathless but looked around the room for Ron. He was nowhere to be seen, and she furrowed her brow. He usually greeted her right away. “Where’s Ron?” she asked.
Molly paled slightly and waved as if to swat the question away. “Oh, he’s on that cell thingy you gave him,” she said. “He’ll be down in a moment. Something about work.”
Harry walked up to her, kissed her cheek, and pulled her in for a hug. She and Harry— their bond never wavered over the years. He looked at Molly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I didn’t know something was going on at work.”
Molly looked away, “Yes, that’s what he told me.”
“Maybe I should go check on him. I am head Auror, and I haven’t got a summons.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, Harry,” Molly said. “Why don’t you and Hermione set the table while I gather the others.”
Harry just shrugged and squeezed her shoulder before he moved further into the room and released her before going to the cabinets to gather the plates.”
The twins were whispering behind her, their heads bent as they spoke. She heard the words “Idiot” and “Wanker” several times before she sighed and went to help Harry, Charlie right behind her, the hand on the small of her back.
It didn’t take long to set the table. The twins, Bill, Charlie, and Percy, helped, and then it was time to eat. She looked to her left and frowned. Ron was still missing.
“Where is Ron?” Arthur asked.
Molly jumped up like she had been zapped and threw down her tea towel. “I’ll fetch him; I think he’s in his room on the cell.”
“That’s rude,” Arthur mused. “Hermione is here, and this is Charlie’s party. Be sure to tell him to come down, or I’ll have to go up and have a word with him.”
Hermione thought Molly was acting out of sorts, but she just shrugged her shoulders when Harry bumped his hand with hers and gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing, Hermione,” he said.
She wanted to agree with him, but something in her gut churned uncomfortably. She always trusted her gut.
Molly muttered to Ron as they descended the stairs. Ron looked pale, his freckles standing in stark contrast against his cheeks as he manoeuvred around the table and slid in next to her. As usual, she leaned closer to Ron to kiss him on the cheek, but he leaned away, gave a nervous laugh, and rubbed the back of his neck.
Yes, something was up. She would have to speak to him when they were alone. Tonight was about Charlie, not her and Ron.
They had been drifting apart for some time. She hated to admit it, but they had. He had worked more hours since she did, and they never had time to connect. She had suggested that he move into the manor with her, but he had said he preferred to stay at the Burrow until they got married—whenever that was because he wanted to spend as much time working and saving for their new place.
That made no sense to her. They had a place, a new manor that her grandparents had gifted her. They would not need money because she was independently wealthy now. Ron knew that, too, because she had been giving him an allowance to help his parents out at the Burrow even though he had made his own money. She didn’t mind; she loved Arthur and Molly as her parents and disliked seeing them struggle. If she could help, that was all that mattered to her. She couldn’t take the money with her if she were to die.
It had been hours since she arrived, and Ron kept checking his phone. They were still around the table lamenting about their childhoods, and Hermione was in tears, listening to Bill and Charlie talking about their time at Hogwarts. Not to be outdone, the twins would chime in on their time, especially when they left. She had to admit that it was spectacular.
There was a soft knock on the window and a hoot. Everyone turned to see an owl sitting with a missive tied to their ankle. Ron jumped up and stood deathly still as Arthur got up with a groan and opened the window.
Hermione watched as the owl circled the kitchen, dropped an envelope in front of Ron, gave a final hoot, and flew away.
She knew what that envelope meant; she had seen them and filled them out enough to know, but she didn’t want to believe it.
It was a fucking birth announcement.
“Open it, son,” Arthur said as he moved to stand next to Ron.
“I—I, maybe I should take this upstairs.”
“Yes, upstairs, Ron, now!” Molly said as she stood, too.
Arthur placed his hand on Ron’s shoulder and held him in place as Ron clutched at the missive.
“Who?” Hermione whispered through the lump in her throat. “Who is it, Ron?”
Ron bowed his head and shook it. “It’s nothing, Hermione. Probably sent to the wrong bloke.”
“Then open it; we all know what this means.”
“I can’t. ”
“You can and you will ,” Arthur said.
“Open the fucking thing,” Bill growled.
Hermione snatched the envelope from Ron’s hand, and he let out a small cry as she turned her body towards Harry and tore through the wax seal.
“Hermione! NO!” Molly screeched and tried to move towards her.
But it was too late. She saw all she needed to see. Ron had a son and with Lavender fucking Brown.
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Harry was worried about Hermione. He hadn’t heard anything from her in a week. After reading the birth announcement, she left the notice on the table. No goodbye…nothing.
He tried to owl her several times and even went to her grandparent's manor to speak to her, but she was always at work. Her grandparents were worried about her, too, stating that she was working too many hours and not coming home at night, opting to sleep in her office at St Mungos. Going there would not work because she was working for this new law and was just as busy as he was, but this was getting ridiculous.
Things between him and Ron were strained at best. He knew he should have said something to Hermione about how he felt towards her. He would cherish her, and she would be happy. Instead, he stepped aside for Ron and thought that was what Hermione needed and wanted. But he had been wrong.
He was frozen in fear as he looked into the fireplace's flames. He was home, but he should be finding Hermione right now. He wanted to improve things for her, especially before he was matched with someone. The one woman he wanted was out of reach, and he had let that go. No matter how much it hurt him, he was content with being close to her, as her friend.
When he went on a disastrous date with Cho all the years ago, she told him that she didn’t like Hermione and wanted him not to be friends with Hermione anymore, but he couldn’t do it. If he had to choose between anyone and Hermione, it would always be Hermione. She had stayed with him since the first year. Even when they were on the run, cold and starving, she cared for him, ensuring he ate first.
Ron left because he missed his mum’s cooking and the comforts of home. They all fucking did. But Ron was selfish; he always had been.
“Fuck,” he muttered and bowed his head, clutching at the strands of his black hair. He needed Hermione.
“Hey, pup, you have visitors,” Sirius said as he strolled into the room. He was still wearing his Auror uniform, and Harry wondered when Sirius had gotten home. He had been so lost in thought he didn’t know the time.
Bill, Charlie, the twins, and Ginny stepped around Sirius and gave him a strained smile.
He narrowed his eyes. He knew intellectually he had no right to be angry with those who stood before him. It was Ron and Molly who held his ire. Because Molly fucking Weasley knew precisely what her son had been doing. They were using Hermione, and he couldn’t let that stand. “What are you doing here?” he rasped.
“We are going to find Hermione,” Bill said. “She is not answering any of us, and we need to ensure she is alright.”
“Where is Fluer?” Harry asked.
“With the girls. She’s worried, too. Percy and our dad would be here, but they got held up at work. They will join us as soon as they can.”
Yes. The Ministry was exceedingly busy because of the new law. He didn’t have time to think about that. What mattered now was Hermione. He would deal with the rest and the law later.
“Where do you want to start?” Harry said as he stood.
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Charlie clenched his jaw as they checked the fourth place for Hermione. She hadn’t been at St. Mungos; she had left two hours earlier. Her office was empty, too. They checked her favourite restaurant, the manor, and now their final spot to check was the club that she owned half of with Draco Malfoy. It was called the Dungeon.
Hermione hardly came here, but she did come and check the books with Draco occasionally, so it was their last hope.
“Yes!” Ginny hissed and pocketed her phone. “Draco said she is there. I told him not to say anything, that we need to speak to her before she runs again.”
“What are we waiting for!” Fred growled. “She could slip through our fingers again.”
Charlie didn’t wait. He and Harry took off quickly down Diagon Alley toward the club. As they approached, they could hear the beat of the music and the laughter slipping out from the double doors.
They stopped short when Crabbe stepped their way and held out his arm. Charlie flinched when he faded Dark Mark flexed and moved under his muscles.
“The club is full, Potter,” Crabbe said. “You’re going to have to wait.”
Ginny shoved her way between him and Harry and punched Crabbe in the gut, and stomped her foot. “They are with me, Crabbe, now let us through.”
“G-Ginny, I didn’t see you there, of course, go right in!”
The twins looked at each other, and Ginny waved them forward to follow her. They each weaved their way through the gyrating crowd and moved with ease. Finally joining them, his father looked uncomfortable and clutched at Charlie’s jumper.
Ginny led the charge and didn’t even stop to knock on the large double doors with a serpent; she just shoved her shoulder on the right door and swung it open.
Draco didn’t flinch as they all piled into the room, but Hermione stood with her mouth hanging open and snapping it shut. She looked angry and tired. Charlie thought she looked lovely, but he always had since he got reacquainted with her after she graduated from Hogwarts. She had grown from an awkward child into a stunning and fit woman.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
It was his father who stepped forward. “We have been worried about you, Hermione, and what my son did. He i—.”
She shook her head and raised her hands. “Please don’t. I feel enough like a fool.”
“You’re not a fool,” Harry said. “He had us all fooled.”
“Did you know, Harry? Did any of you?”
“No,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.
“We didn’t,” his father said, “but my Molly did. It has also come to my attention that you’re the reason for our recent good fortune. Molly finally broke down and told me everything two nights ago.”
Hermione sniffed and shook her head. Charlie could see the tears welling up in her eyes. “I don’t mind helping you, Arthur. You’re like my family . It was just the lies. He said—he lied about everything.”
“I’ll pay you back every knut,” his dad said.
She shook her head and swiped at the angry tears in her eyes. “Not necessary,” she whispered. “I did it because you always told me that was my home, where I belonged. But, Arthur, where do I belong now? Because of his actions, your family has been ripped away from me. I was supposed to be one of you.”
“He’s an arsehole,” George hissed, and Fred nodded.
Charlie inched closer as Hermione swayed on her feet and clutched at her head. She looked exhausted, and he worried she had pushed herself too hard.
Harry reached out and touched her hand, and her legs buckled. Harry may be a seeker with quick reflexes, but Charlie was faster. He caught Hermione in his arms, scooped her up with ease, and cradled her to his chest.
“Is she alright?” Ginny screeched.
Everyone crowded around him, even Draco and Nott. “What’s wrong with her?” Draco asked, his voice high-pitched.
He narrowed his eyes at the blond as he came too close to Hermione. Charlie stepped back and tried to shield Hermione from everyone who wanted to touch her. She needed her privacy now, not to be the centre of attention.
“Why do you care, Malfoy?” Fred hissed.
“Because she is my friend. We’ve been friends since our last year together at Hogwarts. Do you have a problem with that, Weasley?”
Ginny wrapped an arm around him and kissed his cheek, and whispered something in his ear. What surprised him even more was Nott coming to Ginny’s other side and wrapping a possessive arm around her.
“What’s going on, Ginny?” his father asked, with a look of confusion on his face.
Ginny blushed, and Charlie pulled Hermione closer. Harry and Fred flanked his sides, protecting her from anyone else.
“Erm, Dad,” Ginny said and cleared her throat. “You know the new law, yes? Well, Draco and Theo and—,” she shook her head. “They will be my matches.”
“How do you know that? No one knows who they’ll be matched with until next week!”
“Because we went to the Ministry and told them and filled out an application to bond. It will be Draco, Theo, Pansy , and me. We are together, dad. I just didn’t know how to tell you and Mum.”
His father turned red and then pale. “How—what?”
“Take it easy, Dad. We need to get Hermione to the healers right now; we can discuss my matches later.”
“I just don’t understand, Ginny. Why match with three and a girl, too.”
Ginny straightened her spine. “Because I’m in love with all of them, Dad. That won’t change. Hermione knows and is very supportive of all of us.”
His father looked at Hermione and then back at Ginny, his features softening. “Alright, Ginny, we’ll discuss it later. I’ll have them all over for a cuppa at the cottage.”
“Cottage?”
His father looked uncomfortable and clutched at his hat, “Yes. You’re mother and I are going to break our bond.”
Shock rocked Charlie as he stared at his dad, his body feeling numb. The only thing keeping him tethered to the here and now was the feel of Hermione in his arms.
He ignored his sibling’s shouts and turned on his heel to protect Hermione. Draco stepped in front of him and nodded his head sharply to the left. “This way, Charlie.”
They slipped from the club, and Draco pointed to a small area just inside the alley. “Apparation point,” he said. “Just let me know if she’s okay; that’s all I ask.”
“We will,” Harry said. “Come on, Charlie, let’s get her home. The rest can catch up later.”
With one look behind him, he nodded at Draco and went to the Apparate spot. Harry grabbed his arm and called out Hermione’s address. With a loud crack, they were gone.