Chapter 1
Hermione, looking at her reflection in the mirror, took a deep breath.
"You can do this Hermione. You are an absolvent of the Australian Institute of Healing, you even graduated on top of your class. You are smart, independent, capable and … oh who am I kidding? They are never going to care about that! The only thing they-" - "What's capapel mean Mi?" a small voice interrupter her nervous rambling. Hermione looked towards the door to her bedroom and smiled at her little brother. Little brother… the words never failed to make her heart skip in joy, even after four years of being an older sister. She had always wanted to have siblings but, after years of waiting, she had never expected her parents to make her a big sister at the age of nineteen. She still remembered the day she had found out clearly.
- Flashback -
Hermione was straightening her blouse nervously while looking at the sign in front of her. 'Wilkins' Dental Practice' stood in black letters against a silver background. Today was the day she had been afraid of for nearly a year. She had traveled to Australia two days ago in order to find her parents, now living under the impression that they were Wendell and Monica Wilkins, and restore their memories. She didn't expect to be in Australia for more than a few days, a week at the most. She was sure that her parents would be absolutely furious with her actions. Surely, they would tell her to leave them be, at least for a few weeks or months, in order to come to term with the things she had done.
It had not taken her long to find her parents in New South Wales. She had managed to get a room in a small B&B and made an appointment at the Wilkins' dentist's surgery for the next afternoon. She had spent a sleepless night tossing and turning while worrying about her parents' reactions.
Pushing the glass door open, Hermione now slowly entered the practice to find a welcoming reception area furnished in bright, friendly colours. She walked up to the reception desk and smiled at the woman behind it nervously. "Hello! I have an appointment for 3pm?" The woman gave her a beaming smile. "Hello. Under what name?" before Hermione could answer, the woman quickly scanned a list on the desk in front of her. "Would that be Rebecca Webber?" she asked and Hermione nodded. "Yes. That's me."
"I see you're here for a consultation with Dr. Wilkins about getting your wisdom teeth removed?" the receptionist enquired and Hermione quickly recalled the story she had come up with on the phone the day before. "Yes. They've been bothering me for a while now, but I have had problems with other dentists before and would like to talk to Dr. Wilkins before agreeing to the procedure. A friend told me Dr. and Dr. Wilkins are highly qualified and also friendly?" Hermione hoped that her memory charm had not influenced her parents' personality in a negative way. The receptionist reassured her immediately. "Yes! They really are wonderful people to work for." She leaned forwards and said in a smaller voice. "Some might think I'm only saying this because I work for them, but it's true. I have worked in about six different practices since I started as a secretary and the stories I could tell you…" she trailed off and rolled her eyes. "But Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are friendly and considerate and hardworking … don't get me wrong, they are strict if they have to be but they always try to have a healthy working atmosphere." Hermione smiled at the secretary's words. That sounded just like her parents. Always trying to make everyone feel welcome and accepted while being highly respected by everyone they worked with.
She was brought out of her musings by the secretary's sudden exclamation. "But what am I thinking? I'm sorry madam. I am not normally this … chatty. It's just that you somewhat remind me of them." She gave Hermione another beaming smile. "Why don't you take a seat and someone will call you as soon as Dr. Wilkins is ready for you? It should not be too long since he only has one patient before you."
Hermione nodded, gave her thanks and sat down on a chair in the corner of the room. So she reminded people of her parents? She felt a warmth she had not felt in years run through her. Maybe, she thought, maybe everything would be all right after all. She continued her musings until a small woman clad in white and teal opened a door next to the reception desk and called for Rebecca Webber. Hermione quickly stood up and walked through the door the dental assistant held open. The small woman showed her to a room, knocked and opened the door. When Hermione entered the room her breath hitched and tears sprang into her eyes. Her father was sitting behind a large desk that was filled with books and papers. He got up and smiled at her apologetically.
Leaning over the desk, he held out his hand for her to shake. "Hello Miss Webber, I'm Dr. Wilkins. I apologize for the state of my desk but I'm currently knee deep in research." He tried to shove various papers together but failed miserably when a large stack of them fell to the floor. Hermione rushed to help him and could not stop the soft giggle at her fathers' actions. It seemed like he had not changed … at all. While she had gotten her need for order and structure from her mother, she had clearly gotten her obsession with knowledge from her father. Her father thanked her for her help and while apologizing again, put the papers back on the desk. After offering her to take a seat, he himself sat down behind his desk.
"Miss Webber. You have come for a consultation on the removal of wisdom teeth?" Hermione nodded in agreement. She had spent the entire morning thinking of how and when she should restore her fathers' memories. She was reluctant to simply whip out her wand and point it at his face, but if she didn't come up with something soon, that was exactly what she would have to do.
"Have you had other consultations before or how do you know that your wisdom teeth need to be removed?" her father required and Hermione paled. 'Yes Hermione, how do you know that they need to be removed?' she thought bitterly. 'Stupid!' She looked at her father whose face was lined with confusion at her reaction. "Are you all right Miss?" he asked with concern. Hermione let her wand slip from the holder on her forearm and into her hand. She did not see any other way. "I'm sorry." she whispered before pointing the wand at her father's face.