~ Living the life he would want us to lead ~
Life is too short not to make the best and
the most of everything that comes your way everyday"
- Sasha Azevedo.
Chapter 1 – Coming Home.
The morning of 20th of April, 1999, dawned bright and clear. The sun was glistening on every reflective surface, warming the air and the heart.
It was to this image that Hermione Granger opened her eyes,(for just over the 300th time since the last battle, being absconded in this prison of a private hospital bed) and seeing this picture-perfect scene, begged her Doctor at St. Mungos to finally release her.
"Doctor Thorpe, you have to let me leave! I'm walking again now, and my stitches are fully healed. I'm even having some accidental magic, AND..."
The doctor interrupted, his voice louder then hers, to drown out the persistent know-it-all saviours argument.
"MS GRANGER! I'm sorry, but I must insist. You have no place of residence, no next-of-kin to be found, and we have not stabilised your core yet. If we do not give you the significant time for the barriers around your core to heal naturally, then you could not only be a harm to yourself, but the public at large."
"But, Doctor Thorpe! Surly you must see that...."
"AGAIN, Ms Granger, until this is sorted out I must insist that you remain here till such requirements for your discharge have been met. You may be one of the three saviours of the Wizarding World, but this is MY hospital, and you will be treated the same as everyone in my charge."
With a stern bob of his head, and a swift 180 degree turn, Doctor Stan Thorpe efficiently swept out of Hermione's nursing chambers, and down the corridor.
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All this had already happened by 8 am, so by the time 10 am came around, and with that the beginning of visiting hours, "the brains of the golden trio" had organised a lengthy list of questions that she was sure her "family" of visitors could answer.
"Hermione, Dear, how are you today?" Mrs Weasley bustled in, bags piled high of clean clothes, flowers, gifts and (of course) various forms of reading material for the bushy-haired convalescent.
She smiled, wondering just HOW Molly had floo'ed over with all of that, and not dropped a single thing!
"Much better Mrs Weasley, but that......"
"Now now, what have I told you? Its Mum to you, and if you can't handle that Molly"
The young witch blushed. "Sorry Mu...mu......Molly. It seems that old habits really do die hard."
The mother-of-so-many kept on bustling around. "Never mind pumpkin, it's probably those silly pain-killing potions for your knee. So, what gossip have the nurses plied you with today?"
Harry's best friend just had to giggle, did this woman ever stop?
"Molly!.................... Molly...................... MUM!"
The cuddly, older redhead froze in her tracks, shocked at the sudden change of her name. Hermione took the advantage of such focus from the Weasley matriarch, getting her to sit down next to the bed.
"Molly, I feel quite ready to leave, but that hellion of a medico, Doctor Thorpe, is refusing to budge an inch! He says that I have to meet a list of requirements so long, that it puts my own study schedules to shame!
Arthurs wife grinned at the girl, teasing herself in her apprehensiveness. "But of course I can help you sort this out dear, where's this list we need get filled?"
And so the two women sat and planned, long into and past lunch. Soon the afternoon-tea cart arrived, and with that came two trainee Aurors.
"Hey hey hey! How's two of my favourite girls?"
One red and one chocolate head quickly raised themselves from the papers spread on the coverlet, to the green-eyed man storming through the door.
"Harry!!!" the bookworm yelped, trying to remove herself from her seated position to give him a proper greeting.
He ran forward, catching her as she started to topple. "Come on Mione, let's try not to hurt you again, we do want you out as soon as possible"
"OI! Man, am I going I have to go all "protective-brother" on you? Bloody hell, jumping from lunch with my sister, to nuzzling my other one?"
Mrs Weasley only tittered at the boys antics, moving the papers onto a hastily transfigured table, while Hermione drew her focus to the person leaning on the doorframe.
Only 13 months ago she would have drooled at the sight (if she had actually had the chance to drool, given all the hiding and running from Death-Eaters that had filled her calendar at the time) but now she would smile and feel happy in her heart that Ron, her friend and puesdo-brother, had come for his daily visit.
--------FLASHBACK-----------FLASHBACK--------------------FLASHBACK----------
She's been inside nearly two months now. The days passed in a haze of pain, with some recognition that she was missing the funerals, the award ceremonies, the celebration parties and the gruelling repairs and general 'wizarding world goings-on' happening outside St. Mungo's walls.
Every days her two friends, nay – BROTHERS, kept a vigil at her bedside, helping her piece together the tale that remained after The Battle of Hogwarts (as the Daily Prophet had coined it) while her battered and bruised body struggled through treatment after treatment to return her to her original state.
Helen's daughter awoke that morning to find only one of her shadows by her side.
"R...r...rr..ron"
"Shush Mione. Keep your strength. I'll call the nurse for your painkillers...."
She stretched out her arm, grabbing his wrist, keeping him at her side. "We need ..t...to talk Ron."
A soft smile spread the freckles on his face. "Really? I think we need to get some more potions into you!"
"No, this is important. I ... I have t make sure you ....k....know..."
The freckled smile only got bigger, and Ron took both her hands in his, squeezing them lightly together on top of her stomach.
"You know I love y..you Ron. B..b..but I...i...i.."
"...see me as a brother. I know Mione, I know."
She seemed stunned for a moment, but even that statement could not stop the young woman from completing her mission.
"B..But how could you? I l...l..led you on! & that k..k..kiss..s.."
"...Was the kiss of two friends, friends closer then anyone felt was possible. Friends who were scared, frighted to the core....petrified that they were going to die without letting each other know how they truly felt about each other. I really do understand. I should probably get that nurse now, I promised I would as soon........."
"No! I have to know... D..do you hate me Ron?
Though his eyes looked sad, the smile grew even bigger. "Course not sis. Just remember there are now 6 brothers watching your back now, not just one!"
With that Bills youngest brother absconded himself from the room, leaving the girl to contemplate her thoughts.
"6 brothers? But I thought........ OH! HARRY!!!!!"
--------UN-FLASHBACK-------UN-FLASHBACK------------UN-FLASHBACK.----------
" So... Did you miss me?"
Hermione scoffed "Come off it! It was only a day!. Now, are you two going to use your cerebellums to help me or not. Mum and I are planning my escape from this detention centre!" With their best friends release in mind they set to work.
By the time the dinner cart had floated in (the staff knew of the girls diamond-hard views on house-elf enslavement – hence why they floated her food in, keeping the elves clearly from her sight) nearly everything had been planned.
"Right", Molly stated as they enlarged the final checklist and used a sticking-charm to attach it to the far wall, "let's make sure we have everything under control"
"Item 1: Ability to transport oneself?
"Check" Harry replyed.
"Proof?" Molly enquired.
The bookworm piped up "I can still complete a successful apparition, just it's a lot eaiser now", she said popping almost silently from one side of the room to the other, "and I have my cane if my knee gets tired."
"Item 2: Next-of-kin?"
"That's all sorted Mum, no worries."
Both Hermione and Ron looked worried. "But son, you're with Luna now, and ....."
The red-headed males eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Bloody hell mum! Merlin, you have to be kidding me! I ment that she has us - you, Dad, Bill, Perce, Ginny, Harry and me!"
His mother tried to unfluster herself. "Oh... oh Of course!. If...if that alright with you dear?"
"Sure Molly", the girl said, knowing that as soon as she had a wand and some decent sleep she was getting "Wendell and Monica Wilkins" back from the land-down-under.
As Molly began to launch into the next item Hermione intervened. "Molly, its ok! We've organised Penny...... sorry, "Nurse Clearwater" to visit everyday to help me with my physical therapy, I'm seeing Professor Flitwick every week to help work on my core's barriers. If I have to go out in public while my barriers are convalescing, I PROMISE I will wear a WWW Shield cloak at all times.........."
"But what about where you're staying?"
The daughter of two fastidious dentists shrugged "I guess I'll stay at my parents house till I find a flat or something....."
"Your will do NO such thing! Dear Merlin, did you think I'd turn you out on the street?", Molly ranted. "You'll be staying with us and that's final! Staying on your own, seriously!"
Hermione blushed, trying to thank the older witch, while being suffocated in a trademark molly-hug.
"Thank you very much", she finally got out, after she finally extricated herself from the vice-like grip.
"Now, smiling all the way, "Who's going to give all these papers and plans to the welcome-witch so I can finally get out of here?"
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It seems even three saviours can not rush the discharge paperwork needed to leave a medical care establishment, even one as organised as St. Mungos. The two boys decided to stay out the wait on the floor of Hermione's room, their Mother leaving for The Burrow and some very hungry family more then likely looking for their dinner. The trio finally joined the ranks at the shambles of a magical home just after breakfast the next morning.
It was only as the door closed on Bill's old room (where she would be staying during her time with the Weasley's) that she realised she had not seen hide nor hair, or even mention, of George since the battle just over 11 months ago.
"I wonder what's happened to George.........."
A/N: Hey guys.
Yes I'm back. Can you believe it? I certainly can't!
This is something that I've been dreaming the last few nights, and after finally getting a few days off work, I've decided to put fingers to keys & type.
Yes this does centre around Hermione, and soon Hermione & George. It DOES Follow Bk 7, but not the epilogue ( I live in an EPILOGUE-FREE WORLD, THANK YOU!)
It starts on the 20th of April, 1999, approximately 11 months after the Final Battle. There WILL be some character bashing, and some adult references.
Also, as all my stalkers (sorry, FOLLOWERS) know - if any of you do still exist – I am a full-time teacher now (high school) & as such my updates (when the term goes back) will be irregular to say the least (And no, my story does not need a daily dose of bran :P )
Thank you all for sticking around. I cant wait to see what happens next!
Dizi 85