Nose to the Wind // tomarry

Chapter 15: Precious and Fragile Things

"Are you–?"

"Shut up," Hermione ordered, not looking up from the Quibbler she was reading on her bed. She'd got back last night, and with the party, Harry hadn't really had a chance to check in with his best friend until the following morning, even with her being in the same house.

Harry leant back against her bedroom doorway. "This is amazing."

"Shut up, Harry."

Harry shook his head, amused beyond words. "Did you want breakfast, or are you too busy buying your ticket for the crazy train?"

Hermione finally looked up at him, her expression bordering on cross. "Are you going to stop if I come down?"

Harry took a moment to consider that, rubbing at his chin. "I make no promises," he decided.

Hermione sighed and climbed out of her bed, leaving the magazine behind. When she reached Harry, who hadn't moved from her doorway, she sort of fell against him, and Harry didn't pause in wrapping an arm around her, grinning. "Hi. I don't know why I missed you," she muttered against his shoulder.

"Glutton for punishment?" Harry suggested.

Hermione let out a helpless sound, then pulled away and poked his side. "Move," she ordered and he led the way towards the stairs. "I haven't heard anyone else up," she added as they started down the stairs.

"Dad left for work about an hour ago," Harry offered with a shrug, because he'd woken up when he heard his father failing to be quiet in the kitchen. He'd been quiet enough that the normal humans of the house had slept through it with only a little turning over, but it had woken Harry up, so he'd come down to make sure James made it out okay. "I'd suspect Uncle Sirius of putting something in the food again–" because the crazy fool had done so for Chris' birthday "–but Mum threatened grievous bodily harm."

Hermione snorted and let herself be pushed towards the table while Harry went to get her some food. "I love your mum."

Harry flashed her a grin. "Makes two of us."

Hermione waited until he'd come over to the table with cereal for her and tea for both of them, then asked, "Did Lily say something about a trip?"

Harry nodded around his tea cup and set it down. "Yeah. We did Canada when there was a rebellion issue back... Oh, it was a while ago."

"Rebellion issue?" Hermione repeated, both eyebrows raised.

Harry couldn't help the way his expression went flat. "British ex-pats who decided they'd rather build a small invasion force of European witches and wizards than live under Voldemort's rule. They attacked Hogsmeade while the students were visiting."

Hermione's spoon clattered against her bowl, her eyes going wide with horror. "That's–"

Harry forced himself to take a sip of tea and shrugged. "Voldemort handled them."

"Oh my G-Merlin. I had–"

"Not covered in history of magic?" Harry guessed, putting on a smile that felt a little tight.

Hermione shook her head. "No. And no one ever–"

"People don't...talk about tragedy," Harry offered carefully, because no one ever talked about the war, either, beyond an occasional nod to the fact that there had been one and it had changed their corner of the magical world. "And, I think, especially for you muggleborns, they don't want to scare you off. So no one talks about it."

Hermione picked a napkin out of the holder in the centre of the table and dabbed at the splatters of milk from when she'd fumbled her spoon. "I guess."