Chapter 2811 - Ch: 24-28

Chapter twenty four

Thursday morning a rather tired Harry dragged himself out of bed and checked his watch, seven am, time to get himself ready. He wanted today to be something special for Hermione's birthday, the day she became an adult in their world.

Harry found that Hermione was right behind him as he walked to the bathroom, thoughts from the day before flitted through his mind as he watched her walk toward him, "we can share," she said as she walked past him into the bathroom, having wondered if she had read his mind he decided that sharing a bath with her seemed like one of the better ideas they had that week, even if she had read his thoughts. An hour later Harry and Hermione finally left the bathroom, Harry to cook the breakfast Hermione to get her self dressed, there was very little moaning this morning about there being no shower.

Breakfast was ready when she joined him in the kitchen, "Harry I love it here in this place, do you think if we asked Dumbledore we could come again soon?" Hermione asked as she sat down to her bacon, sausage, eggs, and beans with fresh cut bread lightly toasted.

"Well I had plans to take you over to that Muggle amusement park today, but maybe you would prefer a walk around the village, talk to the locals, get to know them better."

After breakfast and putting on their coats they left the cottage, and started for the village, it was not long before they met up with O'Keefe who appeared as soon as they passed the first cottage, Hermione wondered if the little fellow actually lived anywhere as he always seemed to pop up in the most unexpected places.

"So Harry, did you give any thought to settling here yet?" Hugh asked as they finished saying hello.

Hermione gave Harry a nudge 'It would be nice to have a place here, a place where we could escape too. I mean I always wondered where Dumbledore went in the holidays, now I'm sure if we needed to find him in the middle of the summer break I'd bet he'd be down at the pub with O'Keefe and the others'.

"Never gave it a thought, though it might be a nice idea." Harry replied

"Well every one who comes here seems to think about staying, thought you might be the same," Hugh said as he looked over toward the village tavern.

Hugh invited them to the pub even as Hermione was talking to Harry in their own special way which surprised them both, it was only a little after nine in the morning, it was much too early for drinking as far as Harry and Hermione were concerned. Declining the offer Harry mentioned that they were going to take their first full tour of the village, maybe get to meet some of the locals, the women especially as up to yet they had only met on the night of the party and there had been so many folk there they had not really had a chance to get to know anyone.

Hugh directed them toward the post office "It's where most of the women meet and do their gossiping."

"Well you can believe me, Hermione is all woman," Harry said laughing. He laughed even harder as both Hermione and Hugh turned red in the face.

"Harry Potter, you should not talk about your wife like that," Hermione said as she saw the funny part, after all it had been her idea to share a bath earlier, and to show Harry just how much of a woman she was.

"Well I'm off to see if Mcallwee is ready to open up," Hugh said as they passed the gate to the pub.

It did not take the young couple long to find the village post office, less than a hundred yards from the pub, the lane ended at the village green on the opposite side was the only shop, outside of which were set three small trestle tables around which were sat what appeared to be the entire female population of the village.

Within seconds of their arrival Hermione was invited to join the rest of the women, while Harry being of the male variety was totally ignored after the initial hellos were said. While Hermione joined in with the conversations of the village women, Harry decided to take a look around the small shop, it seemed they sold just about everything that could possibly be needed by a witch or wizard, from potions to potatoes, Harry marvelled at the amount of stuff crammed into the small space.

Over on the right he found a small Muggle postal service working alongside an owl service, just to the left of the small counter there was a notice board, pieces of paper were pinned to it in a haphazard way, Harry began to read the notes, for sale adds were offering all sorts of things for sale, from some ancient comet 5 broom to a well used gas oven that apparently the door had fallen off. It was toward the bottom of the board that Harry saw what he assumed was one of the newer adds, reading the note he had an idea, it would be the perfect present for his wife's seventeenth birthday. Taking the note from the board he asked for directions from the old man who had appeared to be asleep but who was obviously keeping an eye on him.

Outside Harry found Hermione busy chatting with the others, 'Just off for a walk love, back in about half an hour,' he thought as he strolled away toward his destination.

Harry found Hermione waiting for him when he returned nearly three quarters of an hour later, it seemed she had been brought up to date with who was who, and who did what in the village, Seamus Finnegan it turned out came to visit his grandparents, his mother having grown up in the village. Hermione was ready for a cup of tea and a break from all the gossip, though she did admit that it was nice to have been accepted into the village as though she had lived there for years.

Harry took her hand and began to walk back the way he had just come from, 'Aren't we going to the cottage, I really could do with a cuppa,' she thought to him as he led her further away from the place she could put her feet up and relax.

'I have something to show you, it wont take long it's just along the lane here' Harry thought as he almost dragged her along.

Two hundred yards along the lane just before it went off sharply to the left, Harry stopped at an old garden gate, the paint was peeling and it sounded as though it had not been opened for a long time as Harry pushed at it. Once inside the walled garden they were faced with an over grown path leading to a rather ancient looking thatched cottage, it was obviously a much bigger one than the one they were staying in. Dragging Hermione behind him Harry made his way to the front door, a quick Alohomora had the old door lock open, Harry pushed the door open and it promptly fell off its hinges,

"It's been a while since it was opened," He said as he led the way inside.

Once inside the empty cottage did not seem to bad, "Lets take a look around love," Harry told her as he opened a door, "I found the kitchen," he called as he went over and opened the curtains then the windows, 'the place needs some paint' he thought as he looked at the peeling wall paper. Trying the taps Harry found that there was water though the colour was a little on the brown side, he left the tap running to run off the water in the storage tank.

Harry met Hermione back in the small entrance hall, "So what do you think?" he asked as he joined her.

"It could be a nice place, it's got three bedrooms, and I found a small study and a parlour as well as the living room, the bathroom looks like something from a history book, but yeah it could be a nice place, so why are we here?" Hermione replied.

"Well you best start planning a new bathroom then, because its yours, I just bought it you for your birthday," Harry said grinning, and passing her a bunch of keys and the deeds to the house.

"Seriously, really, for us?" she asked as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him before rushing off into the living room and opening the windows. They spent the rest of the day there, Harry conjured them cups of tea and sandwiches as Hermione spent her time conjuring temporary pieces of furniture, changing things around until she had worked out exactly how she wanted their house to look. She had never had any say in how Potter House looked and with this totally empty house she was able to do all the things she had wanted in a home of their own. She conjured various types of furniture until she decided on having an old world feel to the entire house apart from the bathroom and kitchen; she wanted both of those rooms to look and feel modern and bright.

Harry was about as happy as he had been for quite some time, seeing Hermione so happy and having so much fun planning her house gave him a warm feeling all over, making Hermione happy was something he really did enjoy doing just for the sake of it. It was around seven in the evening when they finally left the house, Harry repaired the door and cleared the path as they left, Hermione repaired the garden gate, making it look almost new. Back at the Dumbledore cottage they sat comfortably on the sofa talking about where they would buy the things for the house. Hermione made plans to visit on as many weekends as they could, she wanted to do all the decorating herself though Harry insisted she let him get outside help if it was needed as well.

"This just has to be the best birthday I ever had," she declared as she relaxed against Harry's chest, thoughts of rewarding her thoughtful husband were on her mind as she listened to his heart beat.

At nine that evening Harry lay on the sofa his head in Hermione's lap, she was absentmindedly stroking her hand through his hair the feeling was making him drowsy, he was feeling contented with his life, and they still had three days left to enjoy being alone.

"I think we should go to bed before you get tired," Hermione said with a glint in her eye.

Smiling Harry answered "I thought we went to bed when we got tired in order to sleep Mrs Potter."

"Well if that's what you want to do," she replied with a cheeky laugh.

"Did you maybe have something else in mind?" Harry chuckled as he leant up to kiss her.

"I just thought I might show you what happens for being a good boy," Hermione said almost giggling.

"Well if I've been a good boy, maybe I should go off to bed right now, just to see what happens," he laughed kissing her again.

"Come on then Mr Potter, I'll let you carry me too bed and maybe I might just let you ravish me," Hermione whispered her lips still touching his "on second thoughts though I think I'll just ravish you."

Harry carried Hermione into the bed room and placed her gently on the bed, the kissing continued while they stripped each other of their clothing, looking at his naked wife Harry gave a low whistle "You really are a very sexy woman," he said once again surprised by her looks.

Hermione pulled him down to her, her breast pressing against his chest as she kissed him "And you my love are one heck of a lover," she said as their passions began to rise "and you're not bad looking your self."

They spent their last three days either at their new house or in bed, only occasionally going into the kitchen to have something to eat, 'I should have bought us a house sooner, I would have if I had known what it could lead too' Harry thought as she pulled him into a crushing hug once again.

By the time they were ready to go back to Hogwarts Hermione had made several sheets of notes about the type of furniture and the shades of paint they would need to buy for the house, she had also decided that it might be a good idea to let Ginny and Neville use it for a holiday, get Nev away from that grandmother of his she had declared when Harry raised his eyebrow. Hermione told their friends about the house as they ate lunch on their first day back at Hogwarts, Ron offered to make some of the furniture promising that it would just be normal furniture no flying spells or anything like that.

When Hermione told Ginny and Neville her idea of them being able to use the place for a holiday, Ginny began to help Hermione with the planning and organising of the decorating, Neville was informed he would be helping Harry on the weekends that they all visited to carry out the refurbishment of the house.

Chapter twenty five.

Christmas was fast approaching with just three weeks until the holiday, and Harry was getting a little annoyed with Hermione, she had worked non stop all term and was working herself much to hard, three days in a row he had woken in the middle of the night only to find her sitting in the living room studying Gryffindor's book. She spent her time between working with the squibs in the new classes that Dumbledore had organised, odd weekends she would work on their cottage, or curing werewolves of their affliction, and when she was not busy with one of those she would be studying the book, with or without Madam Pomfrey's help, with all that and her school work she had begun to lose weight.

Harry decided it was time he put his foot down with a very firm hand, getting up from his nice warm bed he checked the time, it was just past three in the morning. Walking into the living room he found his wife had fallen asleep, homework essays were all around her. Quietly he removed the scrolls of parchment, rolling them neatly then stacking them carefully on the coffee table. With her homework out of the way, Harry gently picked Hermione up from the armchair and carried her to bed, she only made a small murmur as he lay her in the warm spot he had been sleeping in as gently as he could, pulling the covers over her he whispered "This has to stop before you make yourself ill."

Walking back into the living room Harry was surprised to find a total stranger sitting warming himself in front of the fire.

"Hello there 'm' boy," the stranger said as Harry made a shield around the bedroom door, there was something familiar about the man but Harry just couldn't place it for a few seconds, then it came to him, he was looking at Godric Gryffindor himself.

"Now if I had been in your shoes, I would have cast a spell first, and asked questions later," Godric said smiling.

"I suppose I'm just getting used to having dead folk drop in on me in the middle of the night," Harry said as he took the seat opposite his ancestor. "So what is it this time, the Time masters not finished with me yet?"

"Oh no nothing like that, in fact I'm probably going to be in a whole heap of trouble for this, I seem to have forgotten to ask for permission. No I just thought I would pop in for a visit," Godric said grinning.

"Oh just popped in, just like that eh?" Harry said grinning himself.

"Well truth is Harry, that wife of yours has a lot of us worried, she is fated to be the greatest witch ever, but if she keeps up this pace she will not live long enough, anyway I took a little time to come and warn you, you should show her this memory," Godric looked straight into Harry's eyes "Hermione Jane Potter, this has to stop, I do not want my last heir to be Harry, do you hear me, Lily and James want to see some grandchildren, none of us will get to see the Potter line continue if you insist on killing yourself."

"So it's as bad as I thought then," Harry said rubbing his eyes "I thought she was losing weight. I've been worried sick about her."

"She just can't keep it up Harry, she has already found eleven different cures and curse removers, if I had known this would happen I would never have suggested to James that she study the book. She's near the point of no return Harry, a body can only take so much then it will either stop working or it will go crazy," Godric said sadly.

"Hermione always over does it when she is trying to help people, look how she gave up her own life to help me when I needed her, what am I to say to the woman I love, stop being so clever, stop helping people," Harry mumbled

"Tell your Hermione that it is time to think of you and of her children, the ones she wants, she has to be strong for the future. That and who would look after you if she isn't around," Godric chuckled.

Having given his warning Godric sat talking to Harry about various subjects, he spoke of how Merlin admired Harry's ability to adapt to the changes in his life, they spoke a little about Quidditch and other non important things until

Godric suddenly declared, "Oh, Oh, I've been caught, well be seeing you Harry." just before vanishing.

Hermione woke around seven, it took her a few moments to realise she was in her bed, 'Harry must have carried me' she thought as she sat up.

Harry was not in the bed and the other half of the bed was cold to the touch.

Going into the living room Hermione found Harry fully dressed and fast asleep in the armchair next to a dead fire.

She woke Harry when she had made a pot of tea, after rubbing his eyes she began to tell him off for not sleeping in the bed. Harry's seemingly infinite patience with her suddenly snapped,

"How the hell can you sit there and lecture me, when you expect me to sit and watch you work yourself in to the grave?" he exploded.

Surprised Hermione pulled back from him "Harry I, What, But," she stammered lost for words at his outburst.

"Hermione don't give me no ifs and buts, I had another visitor last night, as if I wasn't worried enough about you, I have to have another dead person come and tell me they are worried too," Harry almost shouted "why the hell can't you listen to me."

"Harry I'm fine, I'm managing alright," she insisted.

"YOU ARE NOT FINE," Harry finally shouted "you are losing weight, you work when you should be eating or sleeping, you never give it a rest, how do we have a baby if you are dead?" he had said it; the thing that Godric's warning was about.

Hermione stood speechless, she knew she had lost some weight but it was only a little she told herself, but she just had so much to do she couldn't stop now.

Harry knew he had not got through to her yet, if he left it now she would just carry on, "Ok you want to die, you just go right on and do it, I'll just have to get used to being the last of a long line," he said before he walked off toward the bathroom.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean," Hermione yelled at his back.

Harry took a deep breath, he may well regret what he was about to say but she needed to be told. Turning slowly to face her he closed his eyes so he could say what he needed to say.

"If you keep this up we will not be able to have children, you are working your body to a standstill and you are being too stupid to see it," he held his breath waiting for her reply.

She stood there her mouth open, she could not believe Harry, her Harry had just called her stupid,

"Harry James Potter, it's not me who is useless, too stupid to get through all these years at school without help, too thick to be able to do your own home work, too much of a dunce to do your own essays, you were the one who needed the help, you were always the stupid useless one, so why the hell don't you leave me alone," she yelled.

Harry did not believe what he had heard, he had expected several things but he had never expected that, without another word he began walking over to the writing table, Harry picked up the pensieve then placed it on the coffee table, he pulled out his wand and extracted two memories from his temple, he then placed them in the pensieve, returned his wand to his pocket. He then walked over to the door and grabbed his cloak; he walked out of the door closing it behind him.

Hermione had seen the look in his eyes as she yelled at him, she saw the deep hurt he had felt at her harsh words, words she was even now regretting ever having uttered, she did not even know where they had come from, she had never thought Harry stupid or useless but the words had been said, it was their first real argument and from the look in Harry's eye, she thought it might well be their last.

Dressing quickly she went in search of him; she searched the castle in all the places she knew he liked to go and think or to be alone but she could not find him. Back in Gryffindor tower she begged Ginny to help her find him, when Ginny finally got her to tell what had happened and what she had said, Ginny stopped in mid stride.

"You have to tell me you did not say that to Harry, you did not call Harry of all people 'useless'," Ginny said shocked.

Hermione with tears running down her cheeks nodded she had indeed called him useless.

"Oh God Hermione what the hell have you done, all those years of the Dursleys calling him useless and you just did the same," Ginny said turning around "I don't think you will find him in the castle, in fact you might never see him again, how the bloody hell could you do that."

Hermione had not even given the Dursleys a thought until Ginny mentioned them, it was then she realised just what that hurt look in Harry's eyes was, his own wife thought him useless just like the people who had mistreated him so badly he still had the scars, the one he loved, thought just like the ones who hated him so much.

Somewhere in the turmoil that was her mind Hermione remembered the pensieve, she rushed back to their quarters with Ginny following her, seconds after arriving in their living room Hermione was standing with Ginny watching the conversation with Godric.

The second memory made Ginny gasp, it was the memory of Hermione yelling at him in a hateful tone and calling him useless and stupid and telling him to leave her alone.

Hermione looked at herself in Harry's memory she actually looked as though she had hated him, but she knew it was her sunken eyes and the deep dark circles around them, even she could see she did not look well, she had lost a lot of weight and not just the little she had been telling herself. But it was the words that made her cry harder, her hate filled words that she had yelled at him for wanting to help her. She had seen in his other memory how worried he was, Godric had even come to voice the concerns of himself Lily and James, she saw just how much love there was for her and she had probably thrown it all away, just to learn a little more.

Harry arrived at Potter House and made straight for the stable, he needed to let off some steam and a hard ride would help, he wasn't mad at Hermione, he was a little disappointed that she thought him useless, but he knew she did not mean the things she had said, he had been there before, he had said things when he had been bone tired and on the edge. He knew she had not been thinking as the words came out, but the bit about being useless had stung, even after all these years it was still there, the fear of being useless, the fear that had driven him for most of his life, yes it had stung even if he knew inside she did not think that of him.

With Goldie saddled and ready Harry led her down to the gate that allowed him onto his fields, closing the gate he pulled Goldie over and climbed into the saddle, after giving her chance to warm up Harry rode as fast as she could go, jumping fences and gates as they crisscrossed his land, twenty minutes later he was ready to ride back, he urged Goldie on faster and faster toward the hedge that would land them in the last field before the stable paddock, Goldie landed a little awkwardly and Harry found himself being thrown through the air.

Dig came from the house just having finished his breakfast, the first thing he noticed was the stable door was open, he knew he had not left it open, it was one of his own golden rules, keep the stable warm. Fearing someone was trying to steal the horses he hurried over then quietly entered the building, the only thing out of place was Goldie, she was not in her stall and her tack was missing as well.

A minute later he heard the clatter of hooves out side, rushing out he found a rather hot and sweaty Goldie, she had obviously been out for a good run, looking around Dig could not see who might have been riding her.

Dig yelled for help from the house and was joined by Glanry just a few seconds later.

Glanry informed Dig that no one except the Master or Mistress could enter the grounds without setting off an alarm of some sort.

"Well one of them must be out there somewhere," Dig said flourishing his arm around, "And if they fell off with the ground so hard they could be hurt."

"You fetch the staff, then we will search the fields, I do hope Harry is alright," Dig said quietly.

"How do you know It's Master Harry?" Glanry asked.

"The Mrs would only ride beauty," Dig answered him while straining to see across the fields.

It was twenty minutes later when cook found Harry in a ditch, he was in a rather bad way, he had two obvious broken bones and was unconscious, he also had a rather large piece of a tree branch sticking out of his chest. When Glanry levitated Harry out of the ditch they were all horrified to see the branch went right through him, and a large piece also protruded from his back.

"Must have hit that tree when he came off," Dig said as he examined the scuff marks where Goldie had stumbled.

Glanry levitated Harry to the house, followed by the rest of the staff, who were all looking worriedly at Harry. As soon as he had placed Harry in his bed, Glanry floo called the local healer, then immediately after he floo called Hogwarts and told Dumbledore about the accident.

Dumbledore sent for Hermione who was frantic with worry about Harry, she could not think where he might be, he had not turned up for the first lesson and she was convinced he had left her for good. Dumbledore also sent for Ginny, he had spent enough time with the teenagers to know Hermione would want Ginny there if she needed anyone to be with her.

The local healer had arrived and having examined Harry he knew there was nothing he could do, Harry would need an expert, preferably the best there was to give him any chance at all of surviving, talking to Dig and Glanry the healer told them they should place a petrifying charm on Harry as he should not be allowed to move at all, if Harry was to be treated then the treatment would have to be brought to him. The three of them waited impatiently for Hermione to arrive, she was the only one who could decide what was to be done. It was too great a decision to be made by anyone else. Hermione, Dumbledore, and Ginny arrived five minutes later; Dumbledore noticed the look on the healers face as they stepped out of the fire place.

"How is Mr Potter?" he asked quietly.

"He's alive for now, I don't know how long he has, but he will need an expert in this kind of trauma, preferably the best there is." He looked at the two young women; one of them had quite a big decision, whatever she decided could end up killing the patient. He was glad he was not the one having to do it.

Glanry led them up to the room where he had placed Harry. Harry was lying on his side the large piece of wood sticking out like a spear. Hermione rushed to her husbands' side but stopped to take his hand gently.

'Oh, Harry I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please don't die, I can't live without you' she thought as she looked at the wood.

'Hello love,' she heard as she lifted his hand to her cheek.

'Oh Harry, what have I done?'

'Do I look as bad as I feel' Harry tried to joke.

'I'm so sorry Harry I never meant it, I never meant a word of it, I love you so much, I was just being stupid, tell me you forgive me'

'There's nothing to forgive now tell me the truth love, what did the healer say?' Harry asked.

'I'll get the best there is Harry, I wont let you die, and don't you even think about leaving me alone' she thought as she turned to Dumbledore.

"He's awake, he wants to know what the healer says," she told the watching people.

"Are you sure he's awake, he shouldn't be not with that amount of damage," the healer said disbelieving.

"Hi Harry love, you hang in there till madam Pomfrey says you can get up," Ginny said to him gently.

There was a quick flare in the fire place and Poppy Pomfrey stepped into the room, walking toward the bed she tutted "What did you do this time Harry?" as she approached his bed.

Turning to the local healer Poppy beckoned him to join her, "I'm going to remove this wood, now I want you to do the quickest and best wound cleaning job you have ever done, when I tell you, you start cleaning, then start immediately after with a deep healing charm, work your way to the surface slowly, don't worry about the blood loss, our Harry here is quite good at loosing blood, just don't take to long or even he won't get up from this one."

"Can you hear me Harry, on the count of three I shall remove the wood, now this is going to hurt like the dickens but I need you to stay with me, have you got that, don't you dare be the first patient to die on me, or you will find yourself doing detentions with Professor Binns every day till he retires," Poppy told Harry in no uncertain terms.

'Hermione love will you tell them to get on with it, please' Harry pleaded.

For the first time in his life Harry was really scared, he felt like he was dying but something was stopping him, he realised it was the words he had heard from the writer of fates telling him he would be with Hermione through it all.

He passed out again before Poppy ever got to the counting of three. The darkness came down on him like a cloud.

Chapter twenty six

Poppy Pomfrey asked Ginny to take Hermione out of the room until called for, "I'll get him through this if I can," she told them as Ginny led Hermione out of the door.

Taking hold of the wood and gripping it tight Poppy counted to three, then she cast a shrinking charm on the wood, as it rapidly reduced in size she began the cleaning spell that would extract all the bits of foreign material from the gaping hole In Harry's chest. She had nodded at the other healer as she pulled the now very small piece of wood away from her patient; the wood seemed to have travelled through him at an angle and had somehow missed damaging both his heart and his lungs. It had even somehow managed to push between all the other vital parts and had caused no irreparable damage; though having a three inch hole right through him and bleeding profusely was not exactly good, it was not as bad as it might have been. Removing the wood might well have been fatal, Poppy let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding in. Harry was losing a lot of blood as the local healer told Poppy he was having a problem with two ribs that had been shattered at the entry point leaving bits of bone everywhere.

"You just concentrate on doing the deep healing and I'll see to the rest," she told him as she finished healing his ribs at the front.

It took them about an hour and a half and the amount of blood loss and the heavy use of blood replenishment potion had Poppy seriously worried, she had removed broken brooms from students before now, but compared to the wood that had pierced Harry a broom was nothing more than a large thorn, she was finally beginning to heal the large three inch hole in his chest, his ribs and sternum quite visible still. She decided that the blood loss was getting too severe and she felt Harry might be the first patient she ever lost, she had to fight with her emotions as she continued to try to save the life of the young man she had come to love and respect. Taking a decision she would not normally have done, she hurriedly turned to Dumbledore, who along with Dig and Glanry were standing by the door watching her work.

"Albus get some more of that blood replenishment potion into him you'll have to do it while we still work on him or we are going to lose him," Poppy commanded still waving her wand over Harrys now almost healed chest. Just a few minutes later she was helping to repair Harry's back, the bone damage seemed to be more severe there, but Poppy was the best and she new exactly what she was doing. Hogwarts a school, filled with hundreds of young witches and wizards prone to accidents that Muggle's could never even dream of, had to have the best healer there was, and Poppy Pomfrey was just that, she was the best healer in Europe, and Albus often thanked the stars that she loved children far more than she wanted fame or money.

Albus with the help of Glanry had propped Harry's head up as much as he dared, and was forcing the potion slowly into his mouth, watching carefully to see if he swallowed, a small smile appeared on Albus's face for the first time since the floo call, Harry was swallowing the potion, now all he had to do was get enough inside him to make it useful and hope he had enough real blood left to be replenished.

Both the local healer and Poppy stood up from their bent positions at the same time, they, like the bed were covered in blood "How's it going with the potion," she asked looking at Albus.

"He must have swallowed near half a goblet," Albus told her in reply.

"Well he's going to need every drop of that bottle of potion you can get in him if he is to pull through this one. That was one hell of a hole in the poor boy. How did he manage to hurt himself this time?" she wanted to know.

"Horse riding accident, a simple fall from his horse, all those things, Dragons, Death Eaters, Dementors, and even Voldemort, all tried to kill him and a simple tree branch may have done what they couldn't," Albus said sadly.

Outside Hermione had been frantic "Oh what the hell have I done to my Harry," she kept repeating even though Ginny tried to tell her it was just an accident.

"Ginny, I should have listened to him, he tried to tell me, tried to save me from my self, now look where my thirst for knowledge has got us, half my soul and the love of my life might die in there, and it's all my fault. All he wanted was for me to be a little wiser, take things a little easier, he said I might not have any children if I kept it up, but I had to learn, I had to know more. Oh Ginny, how will I live if he dies, I can't live without him, he's my soul-mate, he's the other half of me, he's my entire life, my reason for being," Hermione cried on her friends shoulder.

Ginny was more scared than she had ever been before, she loved Harry and Hermione more than she loved her own brothers, they had both been the best thing that had ever happened to her. Harry had even saved her life in her first year at Hogwarts, and then unknown to anyone else he had helped her to get over the nightmares that had followed. She along with Hedwig was the only one who knew he had visited her on several nights just to sit with her and to teach her how to clear her mind and control her thoughts so that she could get some sleep. Now she was scared that Harry was in the room next to them dying, she was trying to be strong for him and Hermione, Hermione needed her best friend now more than she ever had before, but it did not make the dread feeling go away.

Ginny suddenly got angry with herself and Hermione "HARRY IS NOT GOING TO DIE, you hear me, now you pull your self together, he needs you now, and you can't let him down, we have to be positive for him, make him want to live, to fight to live, if you give up on him he'll know."

Hermione knew Ginny was right, but she was wracked with feelings of guilt, if not for her selfishness they would have been happy, they would have gone down for breakfast, they would have gone to class together and Harry would not have been out riding in his angry and hurt frame of mind, she just kept repeating it to her self until Poppy Pomfrey walked from the room, she was still covered in Harry's blood.

"You can come in now and you can help clean him up, be very careful with him, no jolting him or moving him if you can avoid it," Poppy told the two girls as she started to use a cleaning charm on her self.

"While I go clean up I want you to watch for any sign of infection, live wood can harbour all kinds, if he begins to sweat or shiver or changes in any way, one of you come fetch me straight away, he hasn't the strength to fight an infection and recover from all the damage, and keep an eye out for any blood loss."

"How is he, will he make it?" Ginny asked.

"Its to soon to know yet, give him a few hours and see if the blood replenishing works, that was a huge hole the boy had," Poppy replied. "I'm just off for a shower; I'll use my old room if that's ok, I'll stay till we know one way or the other."

"Harry's going to be ok, I won't let him die," Hermione said as she rushed in to the room to be by his side.

Hermione and Ginny stood either side of Harry's bed, each holding his hand and willing him to get well, both young women were shedding tears as they watched Harry struggle to breathe.

"Hermione, I love you and Harry almost as much as I love my mum and dad, I'm scared Hermione, I'm scared of what life would be like with out him in it, I don't want him to die." Ginny suddenly said as her self control finally collapsed and her tears fell even harder.

"Harry's going to live Gin, he's going to live and get well, and we are going to have a large family, and, and,and you and Nev will be godparents to our first baby." Hermione said, some of the fire and determination Harry loved about her pushing through her fears.

Dig placed two chairs for the women to sit in before he and Glanry went down to the kitchen to tell the rest of the staff how Harry had lived through the operation to remove the wood, it was just a matter of waiting now to see if he had the strength to over come the trauma.

Glanry called for Dobby and told the little elf what had happened then asked him to visit both Sirius and the Weasleys, and let them know, "Oh and you might like to tell that nice Mr Lupin as well," he finished.

A small popping sound indicated Dobby's departure as he went to carry out his task, 'It is not a pleasant task to bear such news to 'Mr Harry Potter sir's friends' the elf thought as he walked up to the back door of the Burrow and knocked.

Hour after hour Hermione, and Ginny, sat holding Harry's hands and talking to him, telling him to fight, to live and to come back to them, and watching for any sign of fever or shivers.

It was fourteen long agonising hours later when Harry still deathly pale finally stirred 'Hermione'

'I'm here Harry love, I'm so sorry Harry, I love you so much, I'm so, so sorry, my darling, I never meant it' Hermione told him.

'Did I get hit by a train, sheesh my chest hurts, and I could do with a drink' he moaned trying to open his eyes.

'Poppy says all your insides will be swollen and bruised, so don't try to move about sweetheart, just lie still I'll get you some water', Hermione thought to him as relief spread through her.

Harry eventually managed to open one eye; he just did not have the strength to open them both.

Tears ran down her face as Hermione was standing by his bed holding his hand in hers, their fingers were interlaced and Harry knew why he had fought so hard to live, he loved Hermione so much he could taste it as it made his chest fill with a surge of emotion.

'How long have I been here?'

'I'm not sure twelve maybe fourteen hours, Harry you do know I love you, I never meant those things I said, I don't want to lose you, I don't ever want you to leave me alone' Hermione told him as she gently squeezed his hand.

Harry felt his other hand being stroked and he slowly painfully turned his head a little to look and see Ginny sitting there with tear stains on her face, he gave her hand a little squeeze and tried to smile at her.

'Tell Ginny I said hi. Have you eaten anything today?' he asked as he squeezed her hand in return.

Hermione hesitated in answering and he knew she had not left his side all day, 'You two go get something to eat, I want to be a father in the near future you know' Harry said as he drifted off to sleep.

"Harry says hi, I think he's going to be ok Gin, he's sleeping now, normal sleep, the state he's in and he's worried about us, he wants us go get something to eat," Hermione said the relief showing in her voice.

Ginny and Hermione entered the kitchen to find it full of solemn looking people, all of their eyes turned to the two girls as they walked to the table.

"Harry is sleeping now, he came to a few minutes ago, wanted to know if he had been hit by a train, I think he's going to be alright," Hermione said before she collapsed in a heap on the floor. Mrs Weasley was by her side in an instant "This poor girl, she looks half starved," she said as she cast an enervate charm on Hermione.

"She is, she's been over working like she always does, only this time she took it way too far," Ginny said as she sank onto a chair.

Hermione woke to find everyone looking down at her, "Sorry I just…" she trailed off as they all said they knew how she felt.

Sirius and Remus helped her up and sat her in a chair at the table, Remus fetched a glass of milk and made her drink it while he and Sirius sat one either side of her holding her up.

Cook had taken one look at Hermione and called Erin over, "We need a 'special' making, like the one's we made for Mistress Lily, you know the things we will need, now off you go and hurry up," she told the little elf as she started to pull down some pans.

Mrs Weasley joined cook at the stove "Can I help at all cook?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm making a special elf recipe, it will have Mistress Hermione back on her feet before the day is over," cook declared.

"Well I don't mind if you only want me to peel some thing, I just need to have something to do," Mrs Weasley told the cook.

Cook was surprised by Mrs Weasley who usually tried to do her job for her, "Ok I'll teach you the recipe if you promise to keep it secret then you can help see that Mistress Hermione doesn't get her self in such a state again," cook said as Erin came back into the kitchen with an armful of herbs and shrubs.

"Why does everyone call you cook, I mean I know it's your job it's what you do, but they don't call Erin, maid, or Glanry, Butler, what name can I call you?" Mrs Weasley asked.

Cook look up at Mrs Weasley and gave a huge grin, "I much prefer being called cook, you see my elfish name was a big joke to Master James and his friends, some sort of Muggle name for some one who is not all there up here," she said pointing at her temple.

"Oh I see, are you going to tell me, I won't laugh," Mrs Weasley said smiling at the face cook was pulling.

"Skrewie," was all cook said.

"'Skrewie' I don't see anything funny with that, but then I'm not a Muggle, and James and the gang always were jokers," Mrs Weasley said thoughtfully she rather liked the name, it seemed more friendly somehow.

Cook made some very special broth showing Mrs Weasley how to make it as she worked. They served a helping to Hermione Who sat glancing at the door every few seconds, she desperately wanted to be with Harry, but she knew she now had to get fit again so she could take care of him.

Cook stood glaring at Hermione; "You Mistress will take all that broth, now come on, I'm not moving till that bowl is empty," she almost seemed to scowl.

Cook had seen Harry's mum in similar conditions as Hermione, they were a lot alike, both were desperate to fill their heads with knowledge while ignoring the parts of the body that kept the head in place and working, and she knew that Hermione's body had reached a stage where she did not actually feel hungry anymore.

With each spoonful of broth Hermione ate, a little more colour returned to her face, the dark rings under her eyes began to fade; Hermione was beginning to feel she could once more face the world. After her second bowl Hermione looked more herself, she was still thin as a rake, but she no longer had the signs of tiredness that had coloured her features earlier.

Ginny only managed one bowl and was feeling just about as fit as she ever had in her entire life. She offered a spoonful of the green broth to her mother who having swallowed it, felt it working as it seemed to radiate through her entire body.

"Now that's the sort of food I should be serving those boys of mine," she said to Ginny as she licked her lips.

"Don't forget, it's a very special recipe, it should only be used when needed, or it will lose its potency," cook told the beaming Mrs Weasley.

Six hours later Hermione woke with a crick in her neck, for a second she wondered why she was sleeping in a chair, then it all came flooding back to her, she opened her eyes to find herself looking into the green eyes of her husband, the man she loved above all things 'and that includes knowledge' she told her self.

"Harry, you're awake, how long have you been awake, you should have woken me," she said rapidly.

Ginny sitting the other side of the bed woke as she heard Hermione talking, she was so pleased to see Harry was awake, she started to cry again.

"Sorry Harry," she sniffed "It's, I was just so scared."

"Hi Gin," Harry said a little hoarsely, "thanks for sitting with me."

Hermione poured him a glass of water, and held it for him as he took a sip, "Easy sweetheart," she told him as he tried to take a little more.

"Is Goldie ok, I think she tripped, I was pushing her to hard?" Harry asked after sipping the water.

"Yes love, Goldie is fine, she went back to the stable, Dig found her out side, that's how they knew you had to have fallen off," Hermione answered

"She must have jumped the hedge on her own if she went back to the stable, looks like I owe her one, Oh and I did not fall off, I think I went into orbit," Harry joked but as he tried to laugh he found it way to painful. He asked the girls if they could help him sit up but they both refused, instead Hermione called for Glanry, "Could you ask Madam Pomfrey if Harry is allowed to sit up yet, please," she said to the head house elf when he appeared.

Glanry returned just a few seconds after vanishing "Madam says that he can sit up for fifteen minutes, but he is to lie back down if he gets any pain or difficulty in breathing."

The two girls looked at Harry for a minute before coming to a silent agreement on how to sit him up, together they each placed an arm around his back, they then slipped the other arm under his thighs and together they lifted him moving him back against his pillows as they did so. Hermione could not resist kissing him after Ginny gave him a quick peck on the cheek and left them saying she was off to the kitchen for a cup of tea.

Very gently she leant over him and kissed him, she tried to fill the kiss with all the love she could, along with an apology for being stupid. Ginny watched from behind the partially closed door, as Harry moving a little gingerly wrapped his arms around Hermione and held her close, she smiled and said to herself as she walked away "Fight forgotten."

Chapter twenty seven

The day after Harry had the tree branch removed from his chest Madam Pomfrey declared Harry off the critical list, and returned to Hogwarts telling Hermione before she went that both she and Harry were suspended from school until after the holiday on medical grounds. Harry was not to leave the bed for more than a few minutes a day for the next week, "he can go to the little boy's room and that's all," she had told Hermione. Hermione had giggled; Harry was quite a few things but a little boy he most definitely was not.

Hermione cancelled everything she had planned, that included the new squib classes; she intended to get herself fit again. She had a husband who needed her, she had forgotten that for a while, and she had nearly lost him, she wanted no repeat of that. She wasn't even sure yet if Harry had forgiven her for the things she had said, they were cruel and nasty, and though she had not meant them, she had used the very words that had been used by his evil aunt and uncle to put Harry down for a very long time. She had not really had him to herself since his accident, but today she was putting her foot down and sending everyone home, or in Ginny's case back to school.

As soon as she had sent her final visitor away, Hermione made her way to the kitchen where cook had some delicious chicken soup ready and waiting. Hermione had gotten her appetite back with a vengeance once she had eaten cook's special broth, her colour was back to normal and she was feeling better by the hour. She was still worried, her periods had stopped some weeks ago, madam Pomfrey had told her it had been her poor physical condition, and lack of food that were the cause, she could only hope and pray that they would return to normal, she prayed she had not ruined their chance of having the family she knew they both wanted so much.

She remembered Harry's words so distinctly, at the time she had thought them an insult but now she knew that Harry had been so desperately worried about her and their future family, his words echoed in her head.

"If you keep this up we will not be able to have children, you are working your body to a standstill and you are being too stupid to see it"

He had obviously noticed she was no longer having her periods and he was scared of what damage she was doing to her body. Now she ate alone in the kitchen, the soup was full of goodness, cook knew what she was doing, and she would have something else ready for Hermione to eat every hour or so for the next two days. Harry was trying with some difficulty to raise him self up in the bed he was totally sick of lying on his back; he knew he had been seriously hurt but he just had to move. Hermione walked into the room as he attempted to swing his legs from the bed. Rushing over to him she placed her hands on his shoulders and stopped him.

"Where the heck do you think you are going?" she asked as she swung his feet back on the bed.

"Aw come on Hermione love, I'm just off to the bath room," he told her.

"And why would you want to go to the bathroom, you went just fifteen minutes ago, so come on Harry where were you off too?" she scolded

"Truth is I just wanted to get out of this bed," He replied a little sheepishly.

Hermione joined Harry on the bed after placing his pillows so that he could sit up comfortably. Resting her head on his shoulder she suddenly began to weep. Harry placed his arm around her and pulled her to him, "what is it love?" he asked with such gentleness in his voice it made her cry a little more.

"I love you Harry, I love you so much, but now I'm scared you don't believe me anymore when I tell you," Hermione sniffed as she managed to stop her crying "Those things I said were so thoughtless, so horrible, and so cruel, I would rather die than hurt you, but I still managed to nearly get you killed."

"Well I will admit I was stung by what you said, but I knew then and I know now you didn't mean the things you said, I've been there remember, hungry, tired, angry, irritated. I know what it's like, I know how the words just come from nowhere and pop out, so stop all this worrying, you will never get well if you worry so. And I nearly killed myself, I'm not good enough a rider for the things I tried," Harry told her truthfully.

They sat holding each other on the bed until Hermione could resist the need for food no longer, "Cook gave me some broth yesterday, I don't know what is in it but it has made me feel a whole lot better and my appetite has gone past that of Ron's. I'm just off down to the kitchen to get a bite, I wont be long so don't you try to get out of this bed while I'm gone, now promise me Harry," she said as she made sure he was comfortable.

"Ok love, I promise I'll be good, for a while anyway." Harry said reluctantly.

"I mean it Harry you are to stay in this bed or else," Hermione said smiling at him as she left the room.

A week later on his first day out of bed Harry got a surprise visit from a group of people he had only ever met during exams at the school, they were led by Minister Bones. Glanry answered the door bell and led them into one of the reception rooms, then having been asked he led the minister to the kitchen where both Harry and Hermione were finishing off a late breakfast. Hermione welcomed their visitor and offered her a cup of tea. The minister was only too pleased to accept it; she had been busy since six that morning, with only a very short break. As she sipped her tea with Harry and Hermione she dropped her surprise on them. Hermione thought she saw something in the minister's eye but could not be sure what it meant, it was like the look of glee a young girl gets when asked on her first date.

"Now Mr and Mrs Potter, since your capture of those Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor, I have been trying to think of a way to show you the appreciation of the wizarding world, I have spoken with Albus and on his suggestion I have bent a few small rules and changed a few ancient practices. I have a proposal for you; if you accept it I think we might all feel just a little happier. Now Harry I heard about your riding accident and about the dreadful injuries you received, so I need to ask you if you would be capable of using your magic today?" The Minister said in her official tone.

"I think so, it was not a magical injury and I have had plenty of rest, thanks to Hermione who point blank refused to allow me out of bed for a whole week," Harry said with a smile.

"Hermione would you be capable of using your magic today?" the minister asked.

Harry looked at his wife, she had begun to fill out again, whatever it was that cook was giving her was building her back to her former self, He nodded to her to show he thought she should say yes.

"Yes I should have no problem, might I ask why you want to know?" Hermione enquired.

"Yes well that's where my proposal comes in, if you two can take and pass your NEWT's today, then you would both be allowed to use your magic you would both be classed as of age, you Hermione are already an adult in our world, Harry you would be declared legally an adult too, me I would get a whole lot less paper work to do sorting things out every time you two catch a criminal, the paper work is murder, so I propose you save us all quite a lot of trouble by sitting your exams today" the minister answered.

"Take our NEWT's today, but we still have a year at school to do, and that's not including next term," Hermione gasped.

Harry could see Dumbledore written all over this proposal, Albus knew that neither of them needed to go to school, they were already more highly skilled than any of the professors, it had just not been admitted to by anyone. Albus was also worried about the amount of work that Hermione was capable of doing surreptitiously, he had told Harry as much just two days before on his last visit. He had even suggested that Harry place an alarm on the bedroom door to wake him should Hermione try to sneak some work in while he slept.

"I'm willing to give it a go if it means we get to finish school a year early," Harry volunteered.

"Well if you are going to do them, then I might as well do them too," Hermione said, she was not really happy, she liked to prepare well in advance for exams.

"Right that's settled then, we will start at around eleven," minister Bones grinned "meanwhile perhaps you could see to it the examiners get a cup of tea, they are waiting in your reception."

Harry and Hermione spent the day doing all their exams, they had no written work, instead it was all either practical or verbal, the only thing Harry struggled with even after all this time was history of magic, it was a subject he could just never enjoy. The two of them did different exams all through the day, none of which seemed too hard or taxing for Hermione, Harry how ever was getting tired by mid afternoon.

'Hermione love, I don't think I'm going to get through this, all my energy seems to be gone' Harry called to her during his charms exam.

'Harry you sit down right now, I'll be with you in a minute' Hermione ordered him.

'I still have two more of these exams to get through' Harry replied to her order to sit.

'Oh and how am I supposed to have my babies with a dead husband, now you take a seat, and I mean it Harry'

Harry was half way through his charms exam when an idea came to him, "Excuse me sir," he said to the examiner, "I'm not feeling to good at the moment, is there any way to speed this up a little."

"Ah yes your injuries, Madam Bones did tell us you might still be a little weak, dreadful injury though eh?" the old examiner said sympathetically. "How about we finish off with a levitation charm."

Harry smiled and calling for the earth magic he levitated every thing in the room without saying a word. The examiner was thrilled "I've never seen such power and skill," he exclaimed as he placed a huge pass mark against charms on the form he held. Hermione entered the room just as the furniture was settling back on the ground, she was furious at Harry for not sitting down and taking a break when she had told him too, 'You just dare to die on me Potter, and I will come after you kill you again myself' she scolded him.

Harry sank into a chair, he really was not feeling well, Hermione gave him a small phial, "From cook, she says to take a tiny sip every quarter hour till you are finished," she told him as he looked at the scarlet coloured liquid.

Harry obediently took a sip, his eyes lit up when the taste hit him 'by heck! Hermione in a bottle' he chuckled.

'Harry what are you on about' Hermione asked confused by both his huge smile and what he had thought.

'It tastes like you when we, you know, only in a bottle, this could be embarrassing, if I weren't so worn out' Harry chuckled again.

Harry felt the energy returning to him as he sat wondering just what cook had put in this potion. Hermione took the small phial from him and took a tiny sip, at first there was no taste then it hit her taste buds, Harry kissing her was what it tasted like. 'someone could make a fortune with this stuff' she thought to him as she too felt a lift in her energy.

"What did you think, was I right, Hermione in a bottle?" Harry said as Hermione's eyes glazed for a second.

"Harry Potter kissing me," Hermione said as she passed him the phial back.

Just a little confused Harry put the little phial in his pocket, he had the defence exam next, it was one he did not wish to fail at, so he checked that the phial was definitely secure before making for the foyer, it was the largest clear space in the house and had been large enough to allow several shield charms to be placed to prevent the accidental escape of any stray spells. Hermione had already done her Defence and had thanks to Harry's teaching done quite well.

Harry entered the foyer and was greeted by two enthusiastic Aurors who called over in unison, "Hi Harry." It was the same two who had visited before. The instructor was an ancient almost skeletal figure, "Ah Mr Potter, your Defence against the dark arts will consist of two duels, first you will face one of your adversaries, then you will face two adversaries, do you understand this?"

Harry nodded, it seemed easy enough.

"The only two spells you will be allowed are the disarming spell and the petrifying spell, is that all clear?"

"Yes sir, perfectly," Harry answered

One of the Aurors walked out onto the floor, "I'll be giving this all I've got Harry so no holding back, lets show this old one just how good you are, then maybe we could get another butter beer while you tell us all about how you caught seventeen of those dark beggars,"

Harry stood and faced his opponent and bowed, "I'm going to have to make this quick, I'm not to well at the moment," he said as he raised his arm in the usual salute.

The instructor told them to begin on the count of three. As the word three left the mans mouth, the Auror lifted his arm and called out "Expilliarrrrrmmmus" then he looked down at his empty hand, his wand was gone.

"You looking for this," Harry said grinning like a fool, the look on the Aurors face was worth taking a picture of. He had not seen Harry move or heard him speak and yet here he stood disarmed.

"Bloody hell Harry, I know you said you'd make it quick, but bloody hell," the Auror said awe showing in his voice.

Harry passed the man his wand back and still grinning he said "Next."

Facing the two Aurors Harry only watched their faces; he had learned long ago that waiting to see a hand movement was not a good idea. As one of them gave the slightest nod for his partner to go to the left Harry saw it and was ready when the old man said three, he disarmed the one who was going left while he petrified the other one; it was all over in just two seconds.

"Absolutely astounding, amazing, never saw anything like it," the old man was saying as he scribbled furiously on the parchment. "If you need a job Mr Potter I feel sure the academy would accept you even at your young age."

Having given back the wand and setting the petrified man free Harry chuckled "Come on you three, you look like you need a drink,"

Harry walked back in to the kitchen and asked cook for some beer and sandwiches for his guests. He then snuck up behind her as she set about making the sandwiches, and placed a small kiss on her cheek, Harry had no idea until then that house elves blushed, but cook gave him a very bright red faced smile as she said "Ooooh, Master Harry, you're going to get cook in trouble with Mistress Hermione."

"Hello, what you doing to our cook? Harry" Hermione asked as she walked into the kitchen.

Hermione laughed when Harry placed another kiss on cooks cheek and cook once more turned a really bright red, "Oh dear cook, now he knows about that you are going to have to keep an eye on him," she laughed as cook fumbled with the plates.

"I thought you had a defence exam to do, you should be getting on with it and not annoying cook," Hermione scolded him laughing at his expression.

"Done it, think I might have passed it too," Harry declared.

"I haven't even started on my last one yet," Hermione said huffing a little.

Hermione picked up a few of the kitchen utensils, "Just borrowing these for transfiguration," she told cook when she received an odd look.

Thirty five minutes later Harry had given the Aurors a mostly truthful version of what had happened at Malfoy mansion and was just enjoying a sandwich when Hermione returned. 'So how did you do love?' he asked only being polite, he knew Hermione could transform anything she wanted too.

'I think I did ok, but I wasn't happy with my clock, I'm not sure if it was set at the right time' she complained

Harry burst out laughing surprising the Aurors who were looking at him as though he had gone completely insane.

"Sorry, the look on the wife's face, she gets like that after exams, always questioning if she did well enough, or if she missed dotting an i on the third word in the seventh paragraph, that sort of thing," he said trying to cover his tracks.

"I do not wonder about my punctuation afterward, I just like to think through the way I did things," Hermione told the two now grinning officers.

The two Aurors told Hermione about how well Harry had done, and how quickly he had done the task set. Hermione chuckled "What took you so long dear?"

"You know full well I'm not feeling too well yet, Hermione Jane Potter so don't you go around suggesting I'm getting slow, and if I am then it must be old age," Harry pouted till they all burst into laughter.

Madam Bones and the two Aurors stayed for the evening meal after Hermione invited them all to stay, the examiners all refused saying that they had to go back to their office and hand in the results of the examinations. They informed the young Potters that their results would arrive by owl post sometime the following week, "It will be a nice Christmas present for you both I feel quite sure," said the eldest examiner as they were bid goodbye.

Three days later Harry and Hermione were invited over to the Burrow for Christmas but had politely refused, Hermione explained that they were going to celebrate with the staff this year, Dig had no family and they had all become good friends, so along with Dobby, Sirius, and the house elves had been invited by Hermione to take a day off and join the Potters for Christmas lunch. Ginny wanted to spend Christmas with Hermione, and possibly Neville, although Neville was never mentioned in front of the Weasley matriarch, but her mother had put her foot down and she had been told she had to spend it with her family. Harry promised that they would be spending the new year with the Weasley family, and that they would not miss it for anything, making Molly Weasley a little happier with things.

As Christmas week approached the weather turned mild and Harry wondered if they would get to see any snow this year. Hermione had a slightly pleasant surprise when exactly one week before Christmas day, she had her first period for quite some time, the relief she felt was tremendous, when visiting Madam Pomfrey about it, she was told that all her worries were over, everything was working as it should, children should be no problem though if she was foolish enough to do the same thing again she might not be so lucky. Thursday morning they awoke to find over a dozen owls waiting with post, all the envelopes looked very similar, Hermione began to remove them while Harry sorted out a bag of owl treats for the birds.

'Wonder what all these are about' Hermione thought as she opened the first one.

Chapter twenty Eight

Hermione read the first letter then with a slightly puzzled look she passed it to Harry. He had no idea why he had been sent the letter, it was a progress and financial report for one of the largest food manufactures in the country. It was addressed to the chairman. There were seven further progress or financial reports, four letters of welcome to the board from some of the more successful large food retailers, the last three letters were from Mr Griphook of Gringotts bank, two requesting an appointment as soon as possible and the third one was a letter of congratulations on his new status as one of the most valued customers of the bank. They were still puzzling over the letters when Glanry entered the room looking more dignified than he had ever looked before.

"Excuse me M'lord, the minister of magic is here, she requests an audience as a matter of some urgency, she has a Goblin with her sir,"

Harry looked at Glanry and wondered once more why the elf seemed so distant at times. Hermione asked him to show the minister into the living room and then to have Erin bring them in some tea.

'Did you hear that, now he calls me M'lord like I'm some big wig or something' Harry complained.

'It's just his way Harry; you know what a stickler he is for etiquette sometimes' Hermione chuckled at Harry's indignation at being called M'lord.

Madam Bones entered the room looking rather flustered, and with out being asked she sank down into one of the comfortable chairs, Griphook followed her into the room then stood looking just a little nervous and waited by the door.

"Mr Griphook, I take it," Harry said to the Goblin who merely nodded "well would you care to join us." Harry indicated one of the chairs.

Griphook took the offered chair but still looked a little uncomfortable, Hermione offered the two guests a cup of tea and then took a seat opposite Madam Bones, she knew that there was some problem and wondered if one of them had failed their NEWT exams. Harry was still standing by the fireplace his mug of tea in his hand, he too knew there was something going on and he did not like the way that Griphook kept giving him nervous glances.

"Ok what's the problem?" Harry asked breaking the silence of the room.

"Perhaps you would like to sit down Harry," Madam Bones said as she delved into her case.

Harry took a seat next to Hermione 'I wonder what I did this time'he thought as Hermione took his hand in hers.

"Right first let me just get these out of the way," Madam Bones said as she handed them both an envelope.

"NEWT results, Hermione you got eleven out standing's, Harry you only got ten but you both got them all with distinctions, these are the highest pass marks since Albus Dumbledore did his, in fact you both scored a little higher than Albus, Harry you only got an A for history of magic, ok now that's out of the way, I have a problem I will need your help with, Harry last night you were declared legally of age, at nine pm you became an adult in the wizarding world. This morning I found three letters on my desk, one of the letters was extremely old and I had to treat it with great care, I have a copy here for you," she handed Hermione a long roll of parchment before continuing.

"It seems Harry that you are now Lord Gryffindor of Hogsmeade, legal owner of a vast estate that also includes Hogwarts school, you are in fact the owner of Hogwarts, it seems however that we at the ministry have a problem, the ministry owes the estate nearly three hundred years rent for the school, it appears from our records that on the death of a ministry employee nearly three hundred years ago his files were placed in the records office for safe keeping, they have been there undiscovered ever since, therefore the work he was doing was forgotten and were only this year unearthed. According to those files the Gryffindor estates and fortunes became the property of the Potter family five hundred years ago. You also own a rather large estate around Godrics Hollow, as well as the one we are now at, along with all the other known Potter holdings; you Harry are now the richest wizard in Britain.

Now as for Hogwarts the ministry would like to negotiate payment of the rent arrears, our main problem though is rather more delicate than money matters, since the change of ownership so to speak, the house elves have refused to work for the school, in other words they won't do anything unless Lord Gryffindor tells them to. We have not been able to provide breakfast for the pupils this morning and the students are getting, shall I say restless, I need your help Harry or I might have to close the school until we sort all this out." Madam Bones sat looking flustered after her long speech.

Harry had listened carefully to every word she had said, standing up he called for Glanry, the elf appeared with a slight pop.

"Yes master Harry,"

"Glanry could you call Dobby for me, please," Harry asked

A few seconds later Dobby arrived in the middle of the room "Mr Harry Potter sir," the elf said as he rushed over and hugged Harry's legs.

"Dobby could you take me to Hogwarts kitchens please," Harry asked his little friend, seconds later before he could tell the minister he would be back soon, Harry found himself standing by the huge fireplace of the kitchen at Hogwarts.

"Remind me to give you a pay rise," Harry chuckled as the elf let him go.

Harry turned to face the kitchen and found himself looking at a large gathering of elves. "Ok gentlemen and ladies, you wished to see me, well here I am, so what is the problem?" Harry asked the older elves.

"We have no orders M'lord," one of the braver elves said looking at the floor.

"Ok I want you all to continue working at the school, just as you and your ancestors have done for such a long time, I want you to keep up the good standards that you have, I also want to thank you for your loyalty, but in future would you all obey the headmaster as though he were me," Harry watched as the crowd of elves instantly set about their task of feeding the students and staff.

"Ok Dobby I'm off up to the great hall, so I'll see you later and thank you for helping out, oh and I will need some help getting home shortly, if you would help I would be grateful," Harry said as he walked to the door.

"Harry Potter sir could save himself the walk if he apparated," Dobby said as he watched Harry leaving.

"It's not possible to do that within the school Dobby," Harry said grinning.

"It is for lord Gryffindor, Harry Potter sir," Dobby answered.

Harry thought about it for a moment but decided that he was not yet fit enough to attempt it 'just in case', he did not want Hermione to have an excuse to be angry with him so he walked up to the great hall.

Passing angry students he made his way to the staff table, he then whispered in Albus ear that breakfast would be ready very soon.

As Harry said just a few minutes later the food began to appear on the house tables, there was a huge cheer as the hungry students began eating.

"I have asked the elves to take orders from the headmaster as though you were me," Harry told Dumbledore as the teachers also began to tuck into their delayed breakfast.

"Why didn't you come to fetch me?" Harry asked as the noise in the hall died down to that of the hundreds of utensils clattering on plates.

"Would you have believed me had I turned up this morning, and said that I needed you to come here, and tell the elves to go back to work?" Albus asked

"No I suppose not, I wouldn't have believed the minister either if it weren't for this mornings post," Harry chuckled. "well I better get home, Dobby in his eagerness to help, whisked me here before I had a chance to say anything to the minister."

Dobby left Harry in the place he had been before their visit to Hogwarts, Hermione and Madam Bones were chatting while Griphook was still sitting looking a little nervous, Harry found this a little odd for a Goblin who were usually very confident creatures.

"Right I've sorted out Hogwarts; sorry about the sudden departure minister, now what can I do for you Mr Griphook?" Harry asked glad to be home.

Mr Griphook took a breath "I need you to fill in a satisfaction form sir, before your account is passed to a more senior member of the bank,"

Harry looked at Griphook as though he were mad "You want what? What do you mean before the account is passed on?"

Griphook looked even more uncomfortable, "Your account has now been reclassified and has a greater priority so it will be passed on to another more senior Goblin sir."

"Just how long have you looked after the Potter account?" Harry asked.

"Forty years sir, forty one next spring," the Goblin answered.

"And how many complaints have there been?"

The Goblin looked horrified at the very idea "None sir," he said indignantly.

"Well I shall have a huge complaint if you are removed as my account manager," Harry said quietly "You may return to Gringotts Mr Griphook, and tell the Manager I wish to retain you as my account keeper and if he wishes to change things then I would like to see him as soon as it is possible, meanwhile I shall expect you to continue with your most excellent work as my account manager, oh and do we need the rent money from the ministry, will I go broke with out it?"

Griphook shook his head "No sir, it would be no significant loss at all,"

"Ok then you sort that out for me, alter the rent for Hogwarts to a nominal figure and apply the same figures to the arrears." Harry instructed the Goblin.

After the two guests had left Harry sat and thought about these new circumstances, richest wizard in the country, and a lord to boot.

'Can you believe it Hermione, me Harry Potter from the cupboard under the stairs, now I'm supposed to become a lord just like that, how does a lord act, all I ever wanted was to be just plain old Harry Potter, now look at me' Harry was feeling a little confused, none of this had happened in his last time line. He had never expected anything like it to happen in this one.

'I think you already showed how a lord acts when you went to sort out Hogwarts and then how you instructed Mr Griphook in what to do, and I think that Godric might have somehow had something to do with all this, anyway Mr Potter how does it feel to be married to Lady Gryffindor?' Hermione asked as a chuckle escaped her.

'I suppose that depends on how soon Lady Gryffindor wants to have her first baby' Harry replied seriously.

'Oh Harry do you mean it, we can have a baby, a child of our own, its what I want so much, I really do want to be a mum just like Mrs Weasley' Hermione beamed.

'Well we don't have to go back to school, we don't have to worry about money or getting a job and I always wanted a family more than anything else, the fact is if you feel you are ready then so am I' Harry told her sincerely.

'My contraception potion should be worn off by the end of this week; I have an appointment with Poppy for the next dose on Tuesday. I think I better cancel that, I'm so glad you didn't wait till next week, we can start trying as soon as you are fit enough'Hermione told him with a huge smile.

'I have to admit my part in producing a baby does have a lot of appeal' Harry laughed.

'Are you well enough yet though love, I mean you are still getting over that accident' she thought remembering how close to death he had come.

'Hermione can you actually remember when we last had sex, it was before you started to work so hard, before I fell from my horse, it was weeks ago, I can assure you I am well enough, come to think of it I would probably give it a try even if I was dying, making love to you is so bloody brilliant' Harry said grinning

'Well, Mr Potter how about we go up now, and we can practice for the rest of the day, and maybe we can make up for some of what we missed' Hermione thought sexily.

Harry looked at her as she walked toward the stairs, what ever cook had given her had had the desired effect, she looked fitter and sexier than she had ever looked before. Harry followed her lead and took the stairs two at a time, he still had a little of the scarlet potion cook had given to him; a small energy boost about now would be perfect.

Having spent half the day 'practising' Harry told Hermione that they needed to get their Christmas presents sorted, they still had several left to buy including one for Neville and one for Ginny, reluctantly she agreed and once dressed they went down to the village on the quad and got a taxi into the nearest town, which just happened to be twenty five miles away. They spent a pleasant afternoon and early evening present buying, matching sheep skin coats for Ginny and Neville, a jumper for Ron, they got Sirius a rather nice leather full length coat, other small items were bought for Dig, Remus and Mr and Mrs Weasley, and Dobby, Mr Weasleys present was one of the easiest to choose they got him a multi tool for his collection.

Hermione's mum and dad were not quite so easy to buy for until Harry suggested they get them tickets for a Mediterranean cruise. With everyone including Dobby accounted for they made their way home, their packages all shrunk and carried in Harry's pockets they caught a taxi back to the village. The journey from the village to Potter House was done in the dark and what had become a very cold night, there were a few snow flakes falling as they entered the driveway to the house.

'We may just get another white Christmas' Hermione thought as she closed their door.

The remainder of the week Harry delivered all the presents except Ginny and Neville's, they made arrangements for them to be collected on Christmas morning giving Ginny an excuse to visit for a few hours, Neville was also asked to collect his present at the same time.

Christmas day for Harry was rather relaxing, Hermione had given him a new broom, the latest racing thunderbolt, Harry chuckled when he gave Hermione a calendar and told her he had two more little surprises for her. After Neville and Ginny left happy with their gifts, he offered to help Hermione in the kitchen but she turned down his offer, insisting she wanted to cook them their Christmas dinner on her own, it was the first time she had cooked for so many people and she found she really enjoyed it.

Harry, Sirius, Dig, Dobby, and the elves, were joined by Remus, who had been invited along when Hermione had found out he was to spend Christmas alone, they all took their seats at the dining room table as Hermione served the meal. Cook even congratulated Hermione on her small feast as did everyone else, after dinner the whole entourage made their way into the living room where oddly all the men seemed to fall asleep. Cook told Hermione it was a sure sign of a well enjoyed meal as they along with Erin went and sat in the kitchen surveying the pots and pans that needed washing. "A job for Harry I think," Hermione laughed as she poured them all a drink of butterbeer.

It was late in the evening when everyone had finally left and they were alone; Harry took Hermione by the hand and led her to the bedroom next to theirs.

"Right close your eyes and no peeking, one of your Christmas presents is in here," Harry told her as he led her into the room. In the middle of the room Harry told her she could now open her eyes.

Hermione looked around before she turned and kissed him with a rather self indulgent thank you kiss, she had found herself standing in a brand new nursery, a new baby cot which looked like it could have come right from a fairy book was standing in the newly prepared room, several toys stood around the room as well. Then on a small pedestal in the middle of the room sat a small package, Hermione picked it up and opened it slowly. Inside she found an eternity ring; it was inscribed with the words, 'Yours forever more, Harry'.

Harry caught hold of Hermione around the waist as she placed the ring on her finger, before she had a chance to thank him she found herself being whisked way by a port key. They landed in the living room of their cottage in Ireland, every thing had been completed, the entire cottage was finished just how she had wanted it, the furniture was all where she had decided it should be, all the decorating was finished in the colours she had chosen.

"I got some locals to do the work, left them with a memory of how you set things up on that first day here, so shall we go to bed," Harry said as he smiled at her look of astonishment.

She wondered how he had managed to get all this and the nursery done with out her finding out.

'Magic sweetheart' Harry said in answer to her unasked question.