Chapter 2
Flashes of green and red light flew past her at a dizzying rate as an incensed Dolohov threw spell after spell at her, several missing by only inches. She whirled and twisted in a lethal dance knowing that one false step could be her last. The room took on an ethereal quality and she felt as though she was struggling through the layers of a nightmare...only this was no nightmare and there was no waking up. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks and she could barely breathe. She knew she had to be brave but how long can you ignore the fear and remain resolute in the face of death? The shadows crept toward her, strangling her, stifling her and as the room pressed in there was no escape. Dolohov's eyes flashed black and his wand flashed green and in that second the realization hit her...she was going to die.
Hermione woke from her nightmare with a start...well; it wasn't so much a nightmare as a repetition of one of the many truly horrifying moments she experienced during the great Battle for Hogwarts. As the date of Voldemort's death ticked ever closer with an unrelenting finality Hermione felt her world swamped with memories from that terrible night. She tried to empty her mind but it was no use; those memories would be forever indelibly imprinted in her brain and for her, there would never truly be a release from the terror.
Tugging a woollen jumper over her throbbing head, Hermione padded quietly down the stairs from her room into the kitchen. Upon looking out of the window she noticed it was raining and giving in to a sudden inexplicable urge she crossed the kitchen, yanking open the door and letting in the cool morning air.
She took two hesitant steps out of the door, gulping in deep breaths of rain-sodden air and then, ignoring the sudden soaking of her stockinged feet, ran out into the garden. She let the raindrops fall on to her blistering skin and tears mixed with rain to course sad, glistening rivulets down her face to soak into her already sodden jumper.
The rain was so natural. It was washing away her nightmares and her guilt. The war had not left her completely blameless and she thought every day of the lives she had taken, the blank eyes she was met with in her dreams.
Hermione was yanked from her thoughts when she heard a sharp sound not three feet to her left. She whirled around in a panic, fumbling for a wand which still lay next to her bed upstairs, but no matter which way she turned she was met with only thin air. It was then that she heard a rustling on the other side of the Weasley's hedge followed by a deep rumbling, guttural sound.
"Zat really vosn't meant to be funny!" a female voice was drifting over the hedge.
Hermione heard the deep rumbling again and realised it was a laugh, one that she knew very well indeed!
"Yes, well I can hardly help it when-"
"Charlie!" Hermione shrieked as soon as she caught sight of the oldest Weasley. Taking a few quick steps toward her as he came through the gate he gathered her in a tight embrace.
"Good to see you Hermione, I feel like it's been years, you look so…so different" he said with an approving smile on his face, "grown up…you look grown up."
"Well I should hope so considering I'm second only to your dad in the Department of Muggle Relations," she quipped, her nightmares now completely forgotten as she ushered him inside.
*
The second Charlie stepped through the door his booming voice filled the house and within minutes his family was gathered happily around him, questions flying from all quarters. He introduced the woman Hermione had overheard earlier as his colleague from Romania and for the first time the family noticed the woman standing quietly to the left of them, respectfully allowing them their happy reunion. Gasps came from several of the Weasley boys and Harry looked a little dazed, they had never seen anyone so beautiful, she even gave Fleur a run for her money.
"Hello, my name is Emelia Borodin," she said to her enraptured audience. Her voice sounded like a smooth layer of silk, her Romanian accent giving her English an exotic touch as she drew out the last syllable of her surname.
Even Hermione and Ginny were staring silently at the woman with slightly open mouths, taking in every inch of this wondrous being. She was slim and tall with an almost boyish figure. Her hair was short and very dark and framed her face, complementing her features. Her skin was a deep golden colour and Harry stood enthralled as his eyes travelled upwards from her chin.
Her lips were a delicate pink and slightly plump, as though she had just kissed someone. His eyes travelled up past her delicate nose to her high cheekbones but it was when his eyes met hers that the world stopped. He had never seen eyes like that before. They were large and almond shaped, framed with long, dark lashes but it was the pupils that really drew him in…tourmaline coloured pools which flashed with intelligence and also humour he realised.
"Is nice to finally meet you all," she said haltingly but with a smile playing on her lips as she ran a hand through her cropped hair, mussing it up so that it stuck out in a similar way to Harry's,
"Charlie talks about you all ze time."
"Why yes dear, of course dear," Mrs Weasley replied, the first to break out of their trance, "now would you like a cup of tea?" she asked as she immediately began bustling around the now large kitchen.
"Er, no sank you but I vould love a cup of coffee?" she asked hopefully, again running her hand through her hair in what seemed to be her trademark gesture.
"Yes, well a cup of coffee, I'll have it to you in a jiffy dear, you two must be exhausted!" Everyone smiled at Mrs Weasleys motherly ministrations as she busied herself getting the coffee.
"Now where did you say you were from dear I-"
"Mrs Weasley?" Harry asked with a tinge of worry in his voice, "Are you alright?" It was only when he followed her gaze that he understood why she had stopped talking.
"What the…? Everybody open the windows! Quickly!" Harry was shouting and hurrying people around the kitchen and just as they opened the last window everyone understood why Molly and Harry had made a fuss because about twenty beautiful tawny owls swooped in to land gracefully in the kitchen.
Ron looked confusedly at the birds, which were now looking round expectantly at the party gathered in the kitchen, "Well…I've never seen a flock of owls but there are firsts for everything yeah? Or is it a bushel?"
"What??" came the bemused reply from the rest of the room.
"Well, you know, owls!" replied Ron, starting to look a little flustered although it was nothing compared to the way everyone else was looking after hearing his latest revelation, "I was just wondering if they came in flocks or bushels is all." He carried on in a slightly huffy voice, glancing surreptitiously in the direction of Emelia.
As with all the best of comedic situations there was a slight pause as everyone contemplated the utter absurdity of what they had just heard before a trickle of laughter started to roll around the kitchen and within seconds the whole kitchen was on the floor howling with uncontained mirth. Only the owls had remained upright, looking mildly disdainful as everyone sunk onto the floor and Ron sunk further into his seat.
*
Stupid sodding owls! What's a bloke got to do around here to not be totally humiliated in front of Emelia. Ahhh Emelia, it is only a matter of time before you realise the depth of your feelings for me and when you do realise…I'll be there, waiting to sweep you into my arms and make sweet love to you. I promise my love, the second they make me Minister of Magic I'm banning owls from England! Oh yes! I shall save you from the wrath of the fiery beasts my dearest damsel in distress!
"Is it just me or is Ron displaying the first signs of insanity?" asked a laughing Harry when he and Hermione caught sight of Ron sitting on the sofa with a glazed and faraway look on his face.
"Weeell," replied Hermione, cupping her chin and scrutinizing Ron with utmost sincerity, "since technically the first stage of insanity is talking to yourself I'm not sure, but considering that his face has showed five emotions in the last half a minute I think I'll go with insane."
"Yeah, so far I think I've spotted embarrassment, dejection, wistfulness, lust and a strange mixture of conviction and fierceness right at the end," Harry smiled as he counted them off on his fingers.
"That's six emotions and five quid says he's just convinced himself that he's going to save Emelia from a fiery beast and consequentially conquer her heart," replied Hermione who was now picking at her nails.
"Five quid? You mean five galleons?"
"Nope, five quid," Hermione drawled with a slightly bored air, "no ways is this important enough for real money."
Harry pursed his lips and put on a prissy face to reply in a posh, high pitched voice, "And this coming from the Muggle Liaison Officer herself…I am shocked at you Hermione Granger!"
"Aha!!" shouted a gleeful looking George as he entered the room, "I always knew you were a fairy Harry; I could just never prove it. It's a wonder Ginny puts up with it, although since I always thought she was a lesbian it makes sense she's dating a girl."
Harry fake snarled at this attack on his sexuality but laughter won out and he chuckled as he gave George a pat on the shoulder and steered him towards his near comatose brother.
"Cor, he's in a bit of a state, what have you lot done to him, another confunding charm?"
Hermione sighed in resignation "Oh please, who needs to confund him when there are women around."
"Ah Miss Granger you speak the truth, boy loses his head at the sight of a pretty face, but all this is beside the point," George suddenly took on a more serious attitude, "those letters were all from the ministry and they're carrying some pretty big news."
"Really? What do they say?" chorused Harry and Hermione together; both sporting similarly creased brows at the sudden change in George's demeanor.
"Well, Kingsley has invited every witch and wizard in England to commemorate the death of Voldemort in Trafalgar Square tomorrow. He's asked permission from the Muggle Prime Minister who has agreed to allow mass concealment and enlargement charms to make provision for the monumental crowds expected tomorrow."
Harry looked confusedly at George's troubled face, "That sounds wonderful, I think it's a great idea to bring everyone together, but why do you look so troubled?"
"Well, the thing is...you're all going to be publicly recognised for your bravery- "
Hermione looked confused as she cut George off mid-sentence, "But George that's wonderful-"
"-along with Draco Malfoy….. "