DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Harry potter characters, JK Rowling has that privileged. I however own the F*** out of Nick. All mine!
A/N: This is my second attempt at a Fan-fiction. Last time i wrote one/abandoned my story, I was but a small love struck teenager. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I am enjoying writing this. I welcome every comments/reviews/ constructive criticism.
Where does one go after a war? So many friends lost, so many lives changed forever, so much destruction, so much pain. How does one start to recover? How can you pick up the broken pieces? There is no winner of the war, just survivors trying to find a way back to who they were.
Hermione will never forget the day "they won", the moment the Dark Lord was finally vanquished. In that moment, Relief, Happiness, Elation flooded through her, quickly replaced by Sadness as her eyes went over all the bodies left behind. So many faces she recognized, so young and once full of life.
Those Faces still hunt her dreams 5 years later. After the war, after mourning her loved ones, Hermione did the only logical thing in her mind and went back to school, Graduated and took a year off to find herself.
She went to find her parents first, she found her memory charm worked all too well, they had no memory of her, they had a baby, and they were happy, so happy that Hermione felt she could never fit back in with them. Her pain only grew in the face of their normal happy life. It was in that moment that she decided not to revoke the charm. They had a second chance at life, without a scarred daughter, she couldn't take that away from them.
After that, she went backpacking in the muggle world, how strange it was, to see them so clueless to the destruction that took place, to the scars of her war. How refreshing it was not to be recognized anywhere she went. She cut off everyone, not ready to face Harry, Ron, Mrs. Weasley, Fred, and Ginny…She wanted to be alone, to heal.
Her 1 year spilled into 2 years and then stretched to 5 years. She was settled in a little Muggle town across the Ocean. She made new friends and build a little life. How hard it was to trust, to let anyone in, how hard it was to keep up her back story, but how easy it was to fall into the lie. To become Melody O'Neal the Preschool teacher who loved tulips and hot chocolate in the rain.
Hermione has always been a smart witch. She made sure no one could find her, Spells and charms to protect her location, spells to change her looks, the works. She was determined to remain hidden until she was ready, if ever to come back to the Wizarding world.
Hermione remembered the day Melody o'Neal, stood in front of the mirror; her brown locks were replaced by a short blond bob. Her new hair paired with blue eyes where enough for her to conceal Hermione. She didn't want to completely change. She didn't want to lose who she was so completely. This was 6 years ago exactly, and tonight was not just another October rainy night, it was the anniversary of the day she became someone else. Melody was sitting on her porch, with a hot cup of Chocolate enjoying the cold air when she felt a pang of nostalgia taking her back to the rainy nights spent at Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. It was the first time her thoughts of the Wizarding world was a happy memory. Tears filled her eyes as she started to recall all the laughter they shared, all the pain they went through. She wondered what they were up to in that very moment. Have they forgotten about her? Are they Happy?
With a deep breath Melody felt it was time to go back. Her muggle retreat was at an end. She had to sort out a few things, say her goodbyes and find her way back to her home.
It was exactly 2 months ago that Hermione decided to go back Home. She was dragging her feet, taking her time. In truth, going back was scary; the thought of facing everyone and answering all the questions was both exhausting and daunting. Also leaving wasn't as easy as she thought. Her friends here grew on her. Her closest Friend, Nick, was not having any of it, he flat out refused the fact she was leaving. Nick and her had grown incredibly close, A year after she established her new life, she met Nick in a Trauma support group. Melodie Never spoke in the meetings, only listened and Nick's story left a mark on her so strong she had to reach out. Their friendship blossomed and he became the brother she never had. He was the only person who she let in, as closely as she could. Nick came from a very religious and abusive family. When he decided to come out to his family, his Father tried to kill him, his family wanted nothing more to do with him. He was all alone, and after 2 suicide attempts he joined the support group where he met Melodie.
Hermione longed to tell Nick the truth but she feared the consequence. Night after night Hermione struggled with this goodbye, how easy it was to lie and to believe it.
"Mel, you can't just up and leave, for no reason. Wanting change isn't good enough. Please tell me why…pleaded Nick once more.
What would I do without you? Where will you go? Why?
"Nick, you wouldn't understand, she sighed, This is something I must do. Something I should have done a long time ago"
"Mel, Listen to me, you have turned my life around, I adore you and I am here for you. Whatever it is, no matter how bad it is, I will not judge. I am here for you, please let me in. Mel you know I would help you hide a body if need be" Nick was completely serious, since his best friend decided to leave he has been trying to find out why, trying to understand.
Hermione didn't want to lie anymore, in a moment of mental exhaustion and 6 years of suppressed sadness resulted in her outburst.
"I HAVE BEEN LYING TO EVERYONE, I RAN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING, I NEEDED TO START FRESH BUT I CANT KEEP LIVING A LIE, she cried out, stunning Nick into silence. My name is not Melody; she continued softly turning away from him. I am not a preschool teacher and I am a witch"
Nick was still in shock. He was waiting for Melody to turn around with a big smile saying this was a joke because he would not stop pestering her.
"Nick, Hermione started slowly turning around, I am not supposed to be telling you this, I don't know the consequences I will have to face, but I can't keep this in anymore. Please sit down this will take a while."
Nick sat down, still unable to formulate a sentence, he knew Mel kept secrets but at this very moment she was scarring him a little. Hermione Went to her room to retrieve her wand, somethings are easier showed then explained.
"Let me start with the simplest thing. My Name is Hermione Granger, I am 24 years old and I am not blond. This is how I really look like. Hermione pointed the wand at herself and reversed the appearance altering charm she put on so many years ago.
"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! Nick Jumped up on the couch, this was not even close to the wildest thing he expected. "WHAT THE… WHAT THE FUUUU…"
"Nick, pl… NICK!"
"WHAT?!"
"Please, calm down,"
"HOW CAN I BE CALM WHAT DID I JUST SEE?!"
"I am a witch, magic is real, there are so many of us but we are concealed from muggles, I mean non magical people…Hermione said very fast. There was a war, and we won, well who wins a war, but I was messed up, broken so I left everything behind and came here and became Melody." Hermione ran out of breath and stood there watching Nick after her confession.
"wow...ok Mel.. Err..Hermony? Hamone?" Stuttered Nick
"Hermione" interjected Hermione.
"Well I think I'll stick to Mel. Magic is real? You're a witch? You were in a war? I am a what? Nick's thoughts were all over the place. So many questions, so many things he did not understand. Wait so you could have been anything and you chose a preschool teacher with minimum wage?" Nick said suddenly laughing.
Hermione joined in with a nervous chuckle.
"Honestly Nick, I don't know how I let things get so out of hand. I became Melody and I believe I was but I need to go back, I have a whole life waiting for me."
"I told you I was here for you, now I will sit down, and you will talk. And I will try, try and understand and follow."
Hermione nodded. This will be a long night.