Chapter 2: A Very Long Sleep

May 8, 1998 – Granger Residence, Australia, 4:12 p.m.

Hermione

When I woke up, my bed felt slightly familiar. As I opened my eyes, I saw I was in a strange room. There was a desk with a computer on it and a matching chair behind it, and I recognized the closet from an IKEA catalogue. I looked at the clock on the nightstand which said 4:12 p.m.. My wand lays next to the clock with a white note attached to it.

Dear Hermione, it said. I recognized Ron's handwriting immediately.

Please sleep as long as you want and need. Harry, Dad and I came by to tell your parents what happened and what they need to do. We rearranged their house a bit and made this room your temporary bedroom. We've brought your bed from the Burrow, hoping that you would sleep well in it. My mum gave your mum several bottles of Potion for Dreamless Sleep as many as she could spare from home.

Dad told your parents that it was probably best for you to stay here for a while. Mainly, to get some rest and time to process everything that has happened, but also to have some quality time with your parents. Also, Dad had to Obliviate one of your neighbours because she was persistent regarding coming into the house.

Your mum has been searching for some brain squatters around here (Dad called them some Muggle word, but I forgot what they were called, anyway) to talk to and to help you to become yourself again. Harry and I are going in therapy as well, so I think it will be helpful. Fred will be buried in four days (tenth of May) at the Hogsmeade cemetery. Harry will stop by tomorrow and you'll see him if you're awake by then. We gave your parents a piece of charmed parchment (they put theirs on their fridger?) which is connected to the one in our kitchen, so that they can send a message if needed. Mum and Ginny miss you, too.

I'm just one Patronus away, Mione.

Love,

Ron

I smiled at the letter and grabbed my wand. After slowly sitting up and looking around the room, I walked downstairs with my wand in my hand, still not trusting my new surroundings. My blurry memories slowly started to come back to me and it felt as if I had a rock in my stomach. When I came downstairs and walked through the hall, I recognized the kitchen to the right and the living room to the left. Between the kitchen and the living room was an open glass door leading to the garden, which was apparently adjacent to water. I saw my parents sitting in the garden, my father reading a newspaper with a beer and a dish of potato chips, and my mother reading a book with a bowl of olives and a glass of red wine. Filled with relief for their safety, I pushed the mosquito net aside and stepped into the garden.

"Mum, Dad," I said.

The words felt foreign in my mouth and I smiled to myself a bit. They looked back at me and they started to smile widely. Seeing them relaxing in the sun, safe and protected against everything that had or could have happened to them, make everything I did worth it. I walked over to them and leaned down to kiss both my father and my mother on the cheek. My father took my hand firmly in his strong hands.

"Hermione my sweetheart, you look so much better," my mum said softly with a big smile plastered on her face. I smiled back, "I feel a lot better."

"You do look better, sweetheart. How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?" my dad asked quietly.

"Yes, I do feel a lot better and I slept really well! I am so glad to see that you are safe and happy."

While I said it, I could feel the truth burning inside of me. Then my stomach started to rumble and I realized I was very hungry. My parents smiled at me and then my mum stood up.

"You, are going to sit down, while I prepare some food for you," she said not too loud as she disappeared inside. I sat down in her chair, while my father released my hand and got up to get another chair. I was surprised how easily they found everything, even though it was only the first day that they were actually living here as themselves. Dad came back with an extra garden chair and chair pillow, and placed them at the other side of the round garden table. He looked at me, smiling as if he had heard what I thought and said:

"We explored the house after we put you in your bed. The house is pretty logically built and the stuff inside is nice. We apparently still have the same taste we had back home. We even went to the supermarket with Harry when he came by yesterday and…-"

"Yesterday? I thought Ron's note said he would come tomorrow and… wait a minute. What day is it?" I asked my father.

"You slept really long, Hermione. It's the eighth of May."

I looked at him, shocked.

"Yes, you haven't woken up since you restored our memories, called for Ron and Harry, and fainted. Don't you remember it?" he asked softly.

"I do. I can't remember fainting though."

"Yes, you hadn't awoken since. After you slept for twenty-four hours straight, we were worried something else was wrong, so we spoke to a psychologist. She told us that if people have trauma such as fighting in a war, and there isn't time to recover and process everything, it isn't uncommon to pass out. It is the body's way of making time to process and heal," he said, still talking in his quiet voice.

"Yes, I read somewhere that failing to process traumas will lead to prolonged relapses."

After a short silence I knew.

"And it's probably why Harry stayed in the hospital wing only sleeping on multiple occasions," I said thinking aloud.

My father smiled at my thoughts and took a gulp from his beer. At that moment Mum came back with a tray in her hands. She put the tray in front of me and I could smell the warm tomato soup. There was a Greek salad as well, with real Greek feta cheese, green olives, tomatoes, red onion, some sort of yogurt-like dressing and various types of lettuce. In the corner of the tray stood two glasses, one with lemon-flavoured soda and the other with water. I felt my stomach rumble and thanked my mum gratefully. My favourite summer holiday salad and drink were in front of me.

While I picked up my knife and fork, I thought back to our vacations in France. I remembered one time when my parents took me to some sort of food palace and I got the most wonderful Greek salad I had ever eaten. I had tried to figure out what was in the dressing but I couldn't, and I was frustrated for weeks because I couldn't recreate it. I smiled at the thought and started cutting the lettuce. A salad was a nice thing to eat on a warm afternoon. My father continued to read yesterday's newspaper and my mother sat down in full sun, at the opposite side of the table. While I was eating, I enjoyed how brightly the sun was shining. When all the food was gone, I leaned back in my comfortable chair while enjoying the silence, the sun and the view of my parents relaxing.

"Hermione, why don't you go take a shower, and we'll talk after you finish it, or do you want to sleep some more?" my um asked me.

"No, a shower is a great idea. I'll go take a shower and come back when I finish."

Just as I stood up, I could hear a door slam open in the distance. It must be one of the neighbours, I thought as I calmed myself. Then I heard a girl scream and I jumped up with my wand at the ready. I was trying to focus on where the sound was coming from when my father's hand slowly closed around my wrist.

"Tag! I got you! Ha, ha, ha! You're it, Emily!" I heard another girl scream from the same direction. As I turned back to look at my parents who were in total shock, and slowly released myself from my father's grip, I smiled apologetically and decided to explain myself.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little edgy. I'll go take a shower now," I mumbled while walking away.

"No need to apologize, sweetheart, take all the time you need."

May 11, 1998 – The Burrow, United Kingdom, 10:00 a.m.

After a long day of funerals, I spent the night at the Burrow. I learned almost all of the deceased from the Battle of Hogwarts had received an honorary grave at the Hogsmeade cemetery. Remus' and Tonks' funerals were included the funerals we attended yesterday. I and everyone else who attended the funerals were broken. After attending so many services, I helped Mrs Weasley prepare dinner in the kitchen, together with Ginny, Harry and Andromeda while Mr Weasley was watching Teddy with Fleur. The rest of the boys were playing Wizard's Chess. George had said it would've been what Fred wanted us to do.

The morning before I left, Mrs Weasley hugged me for last time and said goodbye. Ginny, who had given me one of her bracelets to keep, hugged me as well. Her sad eyes had lost their fire and joy. I hugged Harry and Ron and told them they were always welcome to visit me and that I would stop by when I was ready to come back to the Burrow. They understood why and wished me good luck with the 'Muggle therapy counselling' as Ron had called it. Harry told me that he would come over soon and after they walked me through the wards and to the Weasley Apparition point, we stopped. I hugged them one more time before taking the purple boot Portkey from Ron and going back to Australia.

May 11, 1998 – Granger Residence, Australia, 6:30 p.m.

When I arrived home, it was already time for dinner. Mum and Dad were busy preparing salmon with a citric salad.

"Ah, there you are, Hermione. Would you set the table? We're eating inside today. We're having salmon, would you like some as well?" my mum asked me over the sound of the stove's exhaust fan.

"Yeah, sure."

I set the dining room table, which stood in front of the garden doors between the kitchen and living room. It didn't take long for everything to be prepared and we were soon sitting down to eat dinner.

"The salmon is great, thanks Dad!"

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

"Hermione," my mum started to speak.

"Yes?" I asked her when my mouth was empty.

"I know we haven't had the right moment to actually talk to you, but we think it is time."

"Okay, I think you're right," I agreed, dreading yet ready for this moment.

"We are aware that you don't need the Potion for Dreamless Sleeping, and that's great. But you're still startled when you hear loud noises. Considering what you've been through, it isn't surprising that loud noises startle you. It's why we thought it would be a good idea to let you get used to loud noises again. Try to see it as rehabilitation. I found some studies on the internet and I think I have several good ideas for how to help you."

I looked at my Mum, intrigued. She felt foolish for not taking second degree in psychology when she was studying to become a dentist and I could quite understand why she was frustrated. I nodded, knowing that whatever she had planned for me, wat was going to be hard.

"I think minimum exposure is acceptable, and by doing just a little bit every day, you will be back on your feet in no time. I suggest we go for a walk after dinner, with the three of us, so that you can adjust to the neighbourhood. Optimistically speaking, depending on how things go, we will have lunch tomorrow in the city, and a jog after dinner. Maybe in the days after that we can go for a swim later."

"It sounds like a great plan Mum," I said, not opposed to the idea.

When you fell off a horse, you needed to get back on as soon as possible.

"I read that Bill McGregor's restaurant is opening next week in Darwin," said dad, as he joined the conversation.

"Who is Bill McGregor?" I asked him.

"Apparently he´s the Australian version of Jamie Oliver."

"Ooh, that must be very nice then!" my mum said happily.

My parents had their rehearsal dinner and engagement dinner at a Jamie Oliver restaurant. So they knew something about good food.

"I'll make you a deal. If your programme for rehabilitating me works, I'll take you both out to dinner to Bill McGregor's restaurant," I said.

"I think that's a great idea," my dad said happily, apparently proud of mum and me.

"To rehabilitation," my mum said while raising her glass of wine.

Dad joined in with his glass of beer and I joined in with my glass of lemon soda.

"To rehabilitation," my dad and I said simultaneously.

"I love you both," I said after I drank a bit of lemon soda.

"And we love you, sweetheart," my mum said smiling broadly at me.

My dad looked at me, took my hand and pinched it. I knew he loved me too.

With my parents by my side I could do what I needed to do, get better.

Hello everyone!

Another chapter is done already! This is just an in-between chapter and I'm really excited about the story myself, and according to the many favourites and followers, I hope you are too. And this isn't just a joke because my writing is really bad ;).

I would like to tell my Australian readers (if I have any) not to take offence in anything I write concerning Australia, because I don't know the slightest thing about it. But feel free to correct me! That leads me to my next question: are there any wild animals that walk around freely through neighbourhoods with water near it?

And for all of you, please, let me know what you think so far! I haven't got the slightest clue if I'm writing okay. Any tips are very welcome!

To the Dutch people out there: happy kingsday2016!

Xxxx Aimee Dara Lyon

Ps. This chapter is edited by the amazing Ms. Lana. And Ms. M. All credits to them!