Chapter 1: Losing It

I lay under my favorite tree in the park. I wanted to enjoy every bit of this summer. In fact, I was going to have one of the best summers I possibly could… before everything changed. Or, so I thought before a potronus landed at my feet. I jolted to a sitting position and saw a lynx staring back at me which meant one thing, it was Kingsley.

The lynx opened it's mouth as Kingsley's booming voice sounded,"Hermione. We know that you're planning on spending the summer with your parents, but we don't think it's safe for you to be left in Muggle society." Why not? I was more safe here than I was away from muggles right?

"It will put your parents in great danger. We advise you to, as painful as this might be for you, erase any memory they have of you. Send them away. We have the Weasley family at a safe house, and Harry is under close watch. I'm sorry I can't give you more information than that." I'm supposed to do what? And he can't give me anymore information? Rubbish!

"Unfortunately, for now, we need to have you all separated. We will inform you when we think it's okay for you 3 to take part in your… mission." Ahh… so he knew we were meant to do something, but by the sounds of it didn't know what.

"There's only one place left for you in the mean time. All information will be provided upon your arrival. There will be a comb here for you in this spot tomorrow at noon, it will be your portkey to your safe house. More information to follow. Stay safe." My eyes flooded with tears as I truly comprehended what the lynx… what Kingsley had said. I had to modify my parents' memories… I had to send them away.

This war and this danger was no longer just about Ron, Harry, and me, it now involved everyone I love. I had to go to some safe house with Merlin knows who, and I couldn't see my friends… this war was becoming more serious with each passing moment.

Then, there's the mission Harry, Ron and I have to complete. Where would we even begin if nothing is safe at the moment? We can't even communicate without the possibility of something being intercepted. I can't imagine this separation will last too long, Harry won't be happy and our mission can't wait much longer.

After an hour or so, I had cried myself dry. I wiped what tears remained on my face; my face was hot to the touch and I could tell my eyes were swollen. I pulled myself together best I could and stood up slowly, taking a deep breath. I grudgingly made my slow walk back to the house, trying to think of ways to make this a better night. For all I knew, it could be the last with my parents.

~*~*~ The next day ~*~*~

I stared at the clock. 11 AM. An hour until I would be making my way to my safe house. An hour until I left my entire family. The clock moves forward a minute and I can feel the tears forming in my eyes, 59 minutes until my life would never be the same. I took a deep breath focusing on the task at hand, the memory charm. How could I willingly erase myself from their memories? That time we were camping in the forest and my dad and I made a rock bridge, the time my mother taught me how to decorate cakes and we made a mess of the entire kitchen, all those times we spent the whole afternoon playing board games and watching movies before ordering food.

45 minutes. I've no idea where to begin. I'd spent the entire night reading up on the spell. What if I screwed it up? What if they lost their memories for good? 43 minutes. No, that won't happen. I've performed hundreds of spells and they've all worked as I wanted. But what if? 40 minutes. I knew that I had to do this, and I knew in my heart that I could, it was a matter of actually doing it.

I crept quietly down the stairs, avoiding the ones I knew creaked, not wanting to alert my parents. I made my way into the living room where my parents were situated on the couch. My mother held a novel in her hand but was glancing over the top of it, smiling at my father. My father's eyes were on the tellie but occasionally locked with my mother's. I smiled at the love that was visible even to me, but that didn't stop the tears from coming. I watched them for a moment more before doing my best to blink the tears from my eyes and pointing the wand at them.

Within 10 minutes, my task was complete. I grabbed the bag I had packed and made my way out of the house right as I heard my mother yell something about needing her swim suit for Australia. I'd made it their life ambition to move there. And, worst of all, made them forget that they'd ever had a daughter. I stumbled blindly to the park, unable to see through my tears.

I collapsed under the tree, bag in hand and wand stuffed into the inside of my boots. I was in hysterics. I couldn't believe what I had just done. I knew it was in their best interest, but it still killed me.

I checked my father's pocket watch, something I'd stolen it from his dresser. I knew that he may realize it was missing, but needing a piece of him to take with me. I had also stolen a locket from the bottom of my mom's jewelry chest with a photo of my parents inside; they were the only things I had left of them. The watch read a minute to noon and I began my search for the comb. Finally finding it, I grasped it in my hand, sitting down and closing my eyes. I didn't want this to come because it may mean there's no coming back.

I felt a tug at my naval and began spinning out of control. Wizarding travel always seems to cause the oddest of sensations. Finally, I began to slow down and I tried to land on my feet. Through my tears however, I misjudged and ended up landing face first in a bed of leaves, my bag landing several feet away. I took a deep breath before going to pull myself up, however I found that a strong pair of hands was already pulling me to my feet.

I glanced up to thank the person helping me, assuming it was the person who's home I would be using as a safe house. I found myself staring into the eyes of none-other than Draco Malfoy.