Hermione gripped Y/N's arm as she landed, shaking her head with a "phew" and a giggle at not having expected herself to apparate.

"You ok?" Y/N asked with a chuckle as he turned to face his lover directly, placing the arm that wasn't being held around her waist.

"Yes, thanks love. Just wasn't expecting to apparate- oh baby I'm so sorry are you ok?" she asked suddenly as her mind went back to the horrible interaction with Dean and Penny in the bank. She saw the pain behind his eyes as he nodded and replied "I'm fine."

She knew he obviously wasn't, but she also knew that if he wanted or needed to talk about it he would. That sometimes he needed to process things on his own. That he would come to her if he needed to. She smiled as she instead looked around at their unfamiliar surroundings and asked her lover sweetly after a quick peck of his lips:

"Where are we love?"

"Horizont Alley babe- I'm guessing you haven't been here much?"

Hermione looked around at all the magical shops she didn't even know existed. She was blown away, it looked even bigger than Diagon.

"No. This is my first time- it's really called Horizont Alley?" she giggled as she still looking around shocked.

"Yeah- Horizontally, Diagonally, Nocturally. Someone loved their puns back in the day" Y/N chuckled.

Hermione giggled back before she looked around in awe again, replying:

"It's crazy all this was here and I had no idea."

"One of the drawbacks of being Muggleborn" Y/N answered with a sigh.

"Sorry love?" Hermione asked unsure what her boyfriend meant.

"Well you're introduced to this whole new world, new culture with a letter and a smile and have to figure it all out on your own. There's no tour, no explanation; shit not even a welcome pack. We're gonna change that one day" Y/N explained, the tone of gravity in his voice matched only by his a sincerity.

"We are?" Hermione giggled.

Y/N smiled and gripped her waist:

"We can't be at war forever, darling. When we win..." Hermione smiled as she wrapped her arms around Y/N's neck, joining her hands at the back "...and we will. We're gonna shake the whole system. It's not just huff and puff when I say I'm going to burn it to the ground, baby. The whole system is broken. It needs rebuilding in our image- purebloods, halfbloods, muggleborn, all sentient beings working together, as equals."

Hermione smiled at her boyfriend. On the one hand he was the big, bad Punisher- she knew he was a warrior of unbridled fury- but when he spoke from his heart about things that really mattered to him, he was as eloquent and charismatic as the finest poet.

"You certainly don't sound like a Pureblood Lord you know" Hermione grinned at Y/N.

"I know. But it's why you fell in love with me right?"

Hermione smiled and giggled and answered with a quick yep before pulling him in for a kiss which he gratefully accepted. As they separated she looked around again.

"So why did you bring us here darling?"

Y/N smiled.

"I've got us a booking, early lunch, just the two of us"

"Oh how sweet. Where love?"

"You're standing in front of it 'Mione" Y/N grinned.

She looked up at the restaurant in front of them.

"Wait what? Really love, The Fat Duck? This is the best restaurant in the wizarding world. I read in A Wizarding Guide to the Culinary Arts that it has a six month waiting list."

"Yes it does... usually. But it's good to be me. Care to join me, Lady Granger?"

Hermione giggled as Y/N bowed respectfully, taking the arm he offered as the doorman held open the door for them.

The couple entered the restaurant and were seated in a nice cosy private booth and enjoyed a fantastic meal. Hermione was blown away when the head chef, Heston Blumenthal, came out to see how they liked the food. She was shocked that he knew Y/N, but Heston explained that Jacob and Y/N helped him out of a bit of trouble a few years earlier. He also spoke of his plans to open a muggle Fat Duck and blow away muggles with 'magical food'.

As their dessert course came out Y/N reached for Hermione's hands.

"You know how much I love you. Thank you for this morning, I know it wasn't easy."

Hermione smiled at the man she loved.

"Of course love, I'll always be there for you. You know that."

"And you know I was serious about you being a Lady now, right?"

Hermione smiled sweetly.

"I am proud to be your Grand Consort" she answered, beaming with pride.

"Well I wanted to make it official. Close your eyes"

Hermione wore an even larger smile but acquiesced to Y/N's request, feeling a small box be placed in her hand when she did. She opened her eyes and looked down at it.

"It's not one of those. Not yet, but I think you'll still like it."

"Of course I will. Can I open it"

"Please"

Hermione smiled opening the box before her mouth and eyes went wide.

It was a beautiful dragon shaped ring, similar to the original form of the L/N Lordship ring, but it had Ruby inlays and about 100 diamonds.

"Oh my... baby... it's..."

"So you like it?" Y/N asked hopefully.

Hermione sort of giggle-cried.

"Of course I do, you wonderful dork. I love it. Thank you so much. How on earth did you organise and get it?"

Y/N chuckled and answered: "I'm still surprised they trusted me with a time turner. May I put it on you?"

"Please" Hermione smiled as her eyes teared up out of happiness.

Y/N gently took her smaller right hand in his large ones.

"Has to be the right ring finger love. I've put a special reserve on the left one" he grinned as he slipped the ring on her dainty finger.

She looked down admiring it.

"It's beautiful baby. Thank you so much".

"Not nearly as beautiful as you. And you're very welcome. Ready to head back to Hogwarts- go cheer Cedric on?"

"Definitely, thank you baby" Hermione smiled.

They paid for the meal and thanked Heston again before using the Floo to return to Dumbledore's office. He was sat there waiting.

"I trust you accomplished what you had to Y/-"

He stopped mid-sentence, a look of shock and what Hermione could have sworn was fear growing on his face as he noticed an all too familiar ring on Y/N's right hand.

"Wh-wh-wha-How?" He stammered, Y/N raising an eyebrow at the stuttering wizard before chuckling. Albus didn't know about the succession of the Lordship.

"How are you wearing that?" Albus squeaked out in shock. Y/N broke into a grin as he replied:

"You don't know about the succession of the Ancient and Sacred House of L/N, do you Albus? How does it feel to be in the dark? I bested my brothers and inherited the title. I claimed my birthday as the rightful heir of my house. I am the Archduke of this nation!"

Albus paled before replying:

"But you're a boy..."

"I am emancipated. I told you at the meeting, Albus. I am yours to play with no longer!"

Y/N snarled, fighting to remain calm as he gently took Hermione's hand and turned to leave. As they reached the door they heard:

"But... you were supposed to stay with Jacob-"

Y/N rounded and exploded, his eyes blackening as he did:

"YOUR PLAN NOT MINE! We are done with the puppetry, Albus. I'm not your weapon any longer. I suggest you stay the fuck out of my way! That ship has sailed thanks to your..."

Y/N calmed, his eyes returning to their brilliant green before he smirked:

"...Manipulations. If you would kindly excuse us, my Grand Consort and I have a Quidditch match to attend."

Hermione gripped Y/N's hand tight as they exited the office, leaving a defeated Albus Dumbledore in their wake.

—~—

The pair headed to their special place and time turned back to half ten. They slowly made their way down to the quidditch pitch and got a seat next to Beatrice with Lavender, Harry and Ron in the Hufflepuff stands. Y/N sat next to Bea, with Hermione next to him and Lavender next to her. Lavender noticed Hermione's ring almost instantly and gushed over it.

"Hermione it's so beautiful and that must be close to a hundred diamonds?!? Are they real?"

"Of course they're real. I'm insulted you'd ask" Y/N chuckled.

"No sorry N/N just how did you afford that and why in the shape of a dragon?"

"Well one, money is no concern to me, especially when it comes to my baby, and two the dragon is my families crest. That's why I got it for Lady Granger."

The comment went over Lav's head as she gushed over the ring. Hermione subtly tapped her temple with her left hand.

Are we going to tell them baby?

No, let them find out in the paper. Should be more interesting that way.

Hermione chuckled "sadist" to herself. Y/N leant in to Beatrice.

"Hey Bea, have you written to Penny lately?"

"Yeah last week why?" Beatrice asked with a smile.

"Can you write to her again? Tell her how special she is. How loved she is. I think she might need to hear it. Just don't say I said anything, ok?"

Y/N's bizarre request caused Beatrice to lower her binoculars that she had been watching her boyfriend through as he flew out with his team.

"Do you know something I don't?" She asked puzzled.

"Dean and I just had a pretty big argument" Y/N responded.

"Again?" Beatrice chuckled.

"Yeah again. I just think Penny might need some tlc."

"Why don't you write her?"

"I don't want to come between a man and wife"

"What? Y/N what are you-"

"Just please trust me and do it, Bea. Please?" Y/N pleaded.

"Ok. Ok. Jeez you're cryptic sometimes"

"Try living with it" Hermione giggled from the other side.

Y/N raised an eyebrow as he turned to Hermione and retorted: "Lucky I love you, Lady Granger."

The friends were distracted as the Quidditch match kicked off. It was not a good match for the Hufflepuffs. They were flattened 180-10 and were now out of contention for the Quidditch Cup at two losses down. Bea went to console Cedric while the others went to have lunch- minus Y/N who had to take care of some business and assured Hermione he would catch up with her in the library later.