A/N: This is a total re-working of a fanfiction I was working on about four or five years ago of the same name. Depression halted my writing, but I'm determined to see this through. The plotline has remained the same, but I know that I can do a lot better than I did. I suffered from a serious case of poor proofreading and continuity errors, so hopefully, I can pull it off a little better this time around.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of J.K Rowling's characters or the HP universe, only my OCs and the plotline.
Not So Different
2011
Hermione Granger-Weasley sat alongside her husband in an area not unlike that of an interrogation room. An older woman- Patricia - sat across from them. Her hair was a faded brown mottled with grey, her face sallow and pinched. Her beady blue eyes scrutinised them, making Hermione feel rather uncomfortable. Ron smiled nervously.
"This is all of them?" He asked. His wife cringed at his boldness. Patricia nodded briskly.
"You wanted family resemblance, which was difficult as you both look vastly different to one another." Her tone was curt, and Ron felt a sharp elbow under the table as Hermione silently scolded him. She shuffled the photographs, watching the children in them smile and wave. All were small, chubby little cherubs, and Hermione's heart melted.
"That one looks cool," Ron said, picking up a magical photograph.
"That's only because he looks like you," His wife huffed. "Besides, you don't refer to a baby as 'looking cool'."
"What's wrong with him looking like me?"
"Your whole family looks like you, Ronald. Hugo look like you," she snapped, a little too harshly. She softened her tone slightly. "Maybe I want some resemblance too." Ron slumped in his chair, reminiscent of a sullen teenager rather than the thirty-one-year-old man he was supposed to be. It was then that Hermione saw the one child that didn't smile.
She reached over and picked up the photograph. The little girl was desperately pale and painfully thin. Her cheekbones threatened to cut her skin, and deep purple shadows loomed under her big dark eyes. Shuffling about with her head dropped low, her dank black hair hung over half of her face. It was only when she looked up at the camera and her hair fell back that Hermione saw in horror that there was a large purple bruise marring her left cheek. She couldn't take her eyes off her. Patricia eyed her closely.
"Merlin..." Ron breathed, taking the photograph. His thumb brushed over her little face and Hermione saw something painful twist on his face. She knew he was thinking about Harry.
"Who is she?" Hermione asked quietly. Patricia reached for a manila folder within a large carpet bag on the floor.
"Ravenna Cassiopeia Gaunt," she said, her expression hard.
Ron's head shot up suddenly, words flying out.
"She's related to Voldemort?"
"Ron."
"I'm just asking, Hermione. It seems like she's been through a lot but we can't just not talk about that side of things-"
"Ron."
"Well, come on 'Mione, is she even safe near our children?"
"Ronald!" Hermione shouted, looking at him in disbelief. "What happened to tolerance? The benefit of the doubt? She's a child!" Ron looked angry but kept his mouth shut. Patricia stared at the two of them, her eyes cold.
"This was a mistake, I can tell. Maybe adoption isn't the right option-"
"No!" Hermione cut in. "No, please. Please." She turned sharply to Ron, eyes imploring him to speak. He looked her in the eyes, his conflict evident, before looking down at the young girl in the photograph. She looked about five years old. Something seemed to shift in the man's face. He looked up again, expression grimly determined but eyes soft.
"Please." He said, voice quiet but firm.
Let me know what you guys think and watch this space, more coming soon :)
Much love
Curiosity
