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The world around Hogwarts was a cacophony of loud pops of people apparating and disapparating, shouts of people celebrating, fireworks lighting up the sky, and massive creaks and groans from repairing charms setting the castle and the castle grounds right again. If one took a second to listen close enough, a thread of mourning could be heard by those processing their losses. Hermione was overwhelmed by it all. There was so much to do, it was hard to know where to start. There was so much hurt, she didn’t know how to help. Fortunately for her she could slip away from the grounds where crowds were gathering. She wasn’t The Chosen One who saved them all from Voldemort. She hadn’t just reunited with family after months of hiding. She was just Hermione. The muggleborn witch whose parents didn’t know she existed. The hard part had actually been finding a place to slip away. The quidditch field was full of students. The great hall was full of the injured. The room of requirement was a major hub of people coming and going to Hogsmeade.
The world was closing in around her. All the fear and anxiety that had been chasing was her catching up to her. The far side of the black lake was the furthest point she could find from everyone. Sitting on the grassy edge she watched a tentacle from the giant squid break the surface. Running her hands along the blades of grass, it was strange to suddenly not have a purpose. To not have somewhere to go. She didn’t have a home. She didn’t know if she had a family. What was next? She could return to school in the fall. That was months from now. And returning to classes seemed… childish. After everything they’d done and seen, learning a spell for an exam felt silly. Then again, without her N.E.W.T.s, how would she qualify for a job? At that she laughed out loud. What a stupid worry to have.
“Something funny?” Harry asked from behind her.
Turning her head, she smiled. He grounded her. He felt like home. Hermione patted the ground next to her. “Nothing’s funny. Come sit. If you can get away for a bit.” Without a word, he sat close, shoulder to shoulder. They both looked out over the water. Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder. She was going to miss their time alone. She’d have to share him again. As much as she hated that tent, she missed the closeness they formed when they realized they were all each other had.
Harry took her hand, intertwined their fingers. “Are you trying to get away?”
Wiping at her face with her free hand, she thought about his question. “I would if I knew where to go.”
“Twelve Grimmauld Place is still under Death Eater control. Minister Shacklebolt was working with some Order members to clear it out and apprehend anyone who’s there. It might take a few days before they’re sure it’s safe,” Harry told her. “Bill offered his place until we can work everything out.”
We. Harry was planning and she was part of the plan. She didn’t know why that surprised her. “They might need the space for family,” Hermione said, not wanting to say Fred’s name. Despite her efforts, her eyes filled with tears.
Releasing her hand, he wrapped his arm around her, pulled her toward him. “We could go find the tent. See if it’s still where we left it.”
The emotion in his voice brought fresh tears. She was going to shatter. “That was weeks ago. Do you think it’s still there?”
Harry got to his feet and then pulled her up. While they stood there, they looked each other over. There were minor wounds to tend to. They were nothing compared to the injuries that couldn’t be seen. “We won’t know until we look.”
His wand was out. He silently asked for her permission.
Hermione glanced toward the castle. It felt selfish to just leave. There were responsibilities. Weren’t there? They’d nearly sacrificed everything for their responsibilities. They could take a night or two. She nodded. In a blink, the school grounds were replaced with a silent forest. Hermione looked around cautiously. “How long will it take before it feels normal again? To go about our lives and not expect an attack.”
“I think that will depend on how long it takes for us to go on about our lives,” Harry answered. “I think it’s on the other side of this clearing.” Harry let go of her hand to walk forward, allowing her to decide when she was ready.
Hermione watched him take several steps forward. It motivated her. His ability to keep moving forward motivated her to take her own steps forward. “I thought the clearing would help us see someone coming.”
“You didn’t count on me saying the taboo.”
The terror she felt the second she knew their protections were gone and snatchers were there washed over her again. Her immediate concern had been protecting Harry. She had counted on no one recognizing her or Ron. Even as the stinging jinx left her wand tip, she knew it was a temporary solution. They should have fought. They should have apparated away. But then they wouldn’t have learned about the horcux in the vault.
At the thought, her skin tingled, remembering the pain from Bellatrix’s curses. She pushed it from her mind like she had been doing since they landed on the beach at Shell Cottage. There was always something more pressing. As they approached the tree line, Hermione was afraid to see an empty campsite. The tent was a symbol for her. For good and bad. She didn’t want it to be gone forever. Knowing it was might actually break her.
But it was there. It stood in the same spot she had erected it. A little more tattered. A corner was detached from the ground, causing it to rise and fall with the wind like it was breathing. “I don’t believe it. Why didn’t the snatchers come back for it?”
“They got their prize,” Harry said with a shrug. He wasn’t really interested in understanding the motivations of such parasites. “And this is pretty deep into the wilderness. I can’t imagine many people have been through here. It was a good spot.” Harry went about securing the outside of the tent.
Hermione crossed her arms around herself. She should help him. She didn’t have the energy. Instead, she turned and gathered up wood to make a fire. They should put up the protections again. There were plenty of Voldemort’s followers who were on the run. Most were likely trying to come up with a believable story about being imperiused or somehow coerced into their actions. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t take an opportunity to attack them if they crossed paths. With a quick spell the fire was lit. She didn’t need the heat as much as she needed the warmth. The reminder of home. And home was with Harry now.
Harry was stepping out from the tent, a cozy blanket in his arms. He always knew what she needed. “I don’t think anyone else has been back here. Some things are a mess but it doesn’t look intentional,” he explained.
That was a relief. It was evidence that they were well thoroughly hidden even without the protections. “It’s getting dark. We should at least put up a repelling charm.”
“I’ll do it. You should sit.”
She wanted to argue with him. He had a more traumatic day than she had. With an effort, she followed him around the perimeter. They hadn’t needed the enchantments since they were taken to Malfoy Manor. The practice was like a ritual. After each protection was whispered, anxiety slipped away. Both their wands slipped to their sides once the task was done. They stood side by side for several seconds. Neither speaking. Just looking into the darkening night. Isolated once again. But on their terms.
Harry took her hand. He released a long breath. He felt it too.
“I was really scared,” Hermione whispered. “When I figured out where you had gone. I felt… alone.”
His hand jerked in hers. “I’m sorry,” he said simply.
He had explained to her his discovery of the resurrection stone. That he hadn’t been alone in that moment gave her comfort.
Harry pulled her away from the cold, back to the fire. The log they had used to sit in that same spot was still there. With the blanket held out, he let her settle into her spot, draped it around her shoulders. Hermione held her arm out, giving him room to sit next to her. They both pulled the blanket tight around each other. His body heat radiated against her side. “People are probably looking for us.”
“Hm,” he agreed, kissed her temple. “They can wait.”
Everything could wait now. “What do we do now?”
“I have some ideas,” he said, kissing a sensitive spot on her neck.
She couldn’t stop her smile. How long had it been since they’d been alone together? She’d been glad Ron managed to find them again. His presence had disrupted the intimacy she’d grown accustomed to after he left. “I’m sure you do. That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. I don’t think we need to answer that tonight. Let’s just… sit by the fire. Camp in the tent. Give ourselves time to figure it out without the demands other people will make on us.”
Relaxing against him, she knew she could do that for him. With him.
“Teddy needs a home. A family.”
Hermione looked up at him. Pain stabbed at her heart. The losses were hard to grapple with. She also struggled to parse his meaning. “Do you… do you want to do that together?” she asked, not wanting to assume his intentions. They never talked about their future together. Like the taboo, it felt wrong to assume there would be a future.
“We can talk about it. Andromeda will want to be involved too, I’m sure. I just don’t want him to grow up thinking he’s an orphan.”
Wrapping her arms around his, he pulled the blanket closer. “We’ll make him a home,” she promised, feeling his love. Tomorrow everything was different. They’d face it together. Until then, they had one last night by the tent.