A quick one-shot of Hermione's reunion with her parents
I lie on the bed and flip through some old Seventeen issues. It's nice to be back home again, to relax in the old back yard in grandpa's hammock and not a worry in mind. It had been the long time since the last time I have nothing to do. For the past years, it had always been worrying about my parents' safety, running away from Death Eaters and chasing hocruxes. But now, it had finally come to an end.
After the war end, I caught the first flight to Melbourne, where my parents had moved to a year ago. I tracked down their address and spend days trying to get them to drink the potion. It was a strong potion, and only one gulp will do, but getting them to drink something off a stranger's hand was not easy. It hurt when my parents looked at me uncertainly as I offer them some test drinks out at the street.
"What's in it?" My mother asked suspiciously. I'd longed to hear her voice again for months, and the first words came out of her lacked of any trust in me.
"It's just cranberry juice" I told her, and then added "ma'am". The word felt strange at the tip of my tongue: bitter. I gulped; worried they'd see me wincing. But my mum just laughed.
"Sweetie, don't call me ma'am. I don't even have kids yet!" she laughed. I attempted on a friendly smile but failed miserably as a drop of tear rolled down my cheek. I looked sideway and quickly wiped it on my sleeve before they noticed.
"Hmm, it doesn't really taste like cranberry," My father took a dip on the tip of his tongue and sniffed the scent. My mother also took a sip.
"So where are you from, dear?" She lowered her plastic cup and asked. I sighed. My parents had watched too many movies. "You don't sound that Australian."
"I'm from London."
My mum gasped in surprise. "We're from there, too!"
"Well, that's awesome!" Drink the juice!
"I'm Catherine. And you are?" She smiled and offered me her hand. I shook it.
"Hermione."
"What a lovely name!" She cooed and took a sip off her cup.
My father still stood there, his full cup in his hand. "So, you live in this neighbourhood, Hemy-nee?"
He mispronounced my name! "No, sir, I live a bit off town."
My mum nodded and finished her drink.
"This drink is rather nice." She commented and put the plastic cup back to my tray. My father eyed my mum and trusted her instinct, he gulped down his drink.
"It is good." He said. I grinned and waited and hoped I'd witness some change.
"Hey, Hemy-nee, you do look like someone I know." Father pointed out. My mum took a closer look at me before she nodded in agreement.
This is it.
"Indeed, she does look familiar." My mum said.
"Maybe we'd met somewhere in London?"
I shrugged.
"Oh, I think I got it." Mother exclaimed "You look like our daughter."
"I thought you said you don't have kids yet, ma'am?" I suggested.
"I said that?" she asked me in surprise "My, my, getting old!"
My father laughed "We do have a daughter. She's a sweet girl, and really intelligent."
"Really?" I smiled. "What's her name?"
"Oh, Her-" Father scratched his head, tried to recall his memory.
Then Mother face turned blank.
"Hermione. Her name's-"
"Hermione." Father finished the sentence.