Let Her Go 2
Italics: Different language.
My lips stretch into a smile as I take the familiar sights in. Everything was the same but different. People weren't scared to walk on the streets and music and laughter permeated the Alley again. It felt good to be home and to see it in better conditions than I had left it in.
"Mama! Wake up, Mama! Wake up! You can't daydream now. I want to see Diagon Alley." The little girl next to me stares up with a pleading brown and green eyes. She was pouting so adorably I just had to pinch her cheeks.
"But we are Diagonal Alley already." I joke.
"Mama!"
With the same mannerisms and attitude, she definitely reminded me of my younger years with the stomping feet and bushy hair. "Oh alright. Come on then oh excited one. Let's see what's changed in these six years that I've been away." I reply back in French. I grip my sunshine's hand tighter and pull her in closer. I'd been away from Great Britain for more than half a decade. I had no intention of letting anything happen to my daughter.
I took great pleasure of showing her all the new sights and old. She answered in rapidly flowing languages that had most looking at us strangely. Not so much the fact that they couldn't understand us, yes, I answered back in different tongues, but because we spoke so many.
I shrug off their stares as did my little ray of sunshine. The stares were nothing new to us Granger girls. We got them everywhere we go. The price of international fame. Animosity disappeared from our dictionaries.
"How would of you like some Sunshine ice cream?" I knew I immediately said it wrong when she starts giggling at me.
"Silly Mama! You can't eat sunshine." She 'chastised' me.
I pat her head. "I'll just leave the language mixing to you then." The downside of raising a child all over the world. They tend to know more about the language than you do. And could mix them like it was nobody's business.
We slowly walk to Fortescue's, I was enjoying being back home too much. Some shops had closed down and been replaced while others simply flourished. Madame Malkin's had expanded and Ollivander's lost its ancient look for a more modern (but still old) one. The Alley itself seemed to have expanded to accommodate new stores and designated floo areas had also become an addition (with no small amount of satisfaction to myself of course).
After the nth stare, I decided to confront the problem. It had stopped being rude and became downright disrespectful. Fingers flexed I realized that Great Britain still retained some of its closed mindedness.
"Evangeline," I called.
She stopped trying to take everything in at once to gaze up at me. "Yes, Mama?" If it weren't for her lone green eye you would think she was a carbon copy of me. Same brown uncontrollable hair, the same shade of brown eye and personality. Her father's traits were hidden at first sight but they were there. That lone green eye betrayed her parentage.
"We're in the U.K now you have to speak English now. When in Rome…"
"Act like the Romans. I know Mama. I just get excited and things come out differently."
I pull her into a hug. "I know you don't mean it but you need to try okay?"
She wrapped her little arms around me. "Yes, Mama."
"Let's get you that ice cream then," I say.
We continued our way to the ice cream store. I chatter mindlessly and Evangeline absorbed every kernel of information I gave her. I talked about Hogwarts and my exploits and adventures. I talked about the teachers and the people and I talked about her father. Not the first time I'd done so but not as often as I could have.
I had yet to tell her who her father was but after seeing the pictures I knew that she knew. She never asked and I never told and we've left it at that. The moment she wants to learn about her father as her father she'll ask and I'll answer.
Just like I've talked to her about all my friends and acquaintances from Hogwarts and beyond, I never lied to her. If there was something I didn't think she should know I merely told her no. Someday she would be mature enough to hear all the realities that I've lived through but not yet for a very long time.
"So, then Ginny caught the snitch. Her brothers were so surprised. They didn't think that their little sister could fly like that!"
Evangeline had a starstruck look on her face. "Ginny sounds so cool!"
"She is. She's actually a player for the Holyhead Harpies, Great Britain's only all-girls Quidditch team. I'll introduce you two one of these days. You'll love her." We were almost at the ice cream parlor now. I needed to take Evangeline down a notch or she'd be a ball of energy later. I stare ahead. Then again maybe she doesn't have to.
"Sunshine," I whisper.
"Yes, Mama?"
I point out a gentleman in black trousers and a button down. "If you want any ice cream you have to ask him okay?"
She looks at me weirdly. I had always told her not to accept anything from strangers we didn't know but she nodded. "Ok."
She makes her way closer to the and laughs when she notices who I've sent her to. I sniff primly. Ye of little faith. "I want a triple vanilla caramel sundae with lots and lots of sprinkles!" I hear her excited voice say.
"Sorry sweetie but you'll have to ask your mum about that." Responded a blonde woman next to the man.
"Mama told me to ask you!"
Finally, the man started to turn. "And who's your mama young lady- Evangeline!"
Evangeline threw her hands in the air. "Surprise Uncle Neville, Aunty Luna!" Neville tucks her into his arms and hugs her close to his chest.
"Merlin you've grown so much, Angel!" Exclaimed Luna.
"How's my favorite goddaughter?"
"Silly uncle Nev. I'm your only goddaughter!"
"Exactly! That makes you my favorite!"
It had been months since the last time we saw each other and so I couldn't help but laugh at their expressions. "Hermione!" Neville passed my daughter to her godmother and aunt and swung me around in a hug. I was grateful for the closeness to my friends and truly, practically my family."I've missed you guys so much!"
"Neville!" I wrap my arms around my not-by-blood brother. "I've missed you guys so much!"
A couple of twirls in the air and Neville put me down. "Look at you Hermione, you get more beautiful every time I see you."
"Let go of Hermione Neville, it's my turn." Luna set down Evangeline and wrapped me in a hug. "It's so good to see you."
"It's good to be back." And it was. Traveling the world was great but nothing compared to being home. Except for Taiwan and France, I love those countries.
"Let me take a good look at you. Turn around for met."
I laugh at my friend's antics. "You sound like an old lady Luna."
"Pish posh. Narggles are affecting your brains. Now turn."
I smile at her silliness and turn. Black slacks with matching black stilettoes and a white blouse with a plunging neckline folded at the elbows. I had my hair half up half down with a rose bun on the back and strands strategically placed to frame my face. A pearl necklace and bracelet plus diamond earrings that fit me perfectly finished my look and had me simple, elegant and looking like a million bucks without breaking a sweat.
Several wolf whistles rang out as I spun for Luna. "Someone Agumenti her. She's smoking." She joked.
"Right back in your general direction Luna." It was true. With a midi skirt, ankle booties and a brown cardigan closed at the waist by a belt, she was looking like a very well dressed Lady of her status with more than a hint of her Lunaness.
"Ohh are we comparing outfits? Do me next. Do me next!"
Neville did his own turn and we couldn't stop laughing. Evangeline did her own in her adorable Mary Janes and skirts. Unlike me, she was much girlier in her dressing. Blue polka dot skirt with white (enchanted of course) shoes and shirt. I'd even managed to calm her hair enough to put a bow in.
With three of Britain's most powerful witches and wizard and a young witchling in the making, we made quite the group and grabbed everyone's attention. Now that they weren't focusing on my admittedly hot looks, they same who the I was.
"It's Hermione Granger!"
"Is it really her?"
"Miss Granger! Miss Granger!"
Neville, Luna, and I smiled for the cameras and shielded Evangeline from view. The more reporters flocked us the tighter my smile became until I gave up all pretense and pushed Evangeline towards Luna and send them and Neville inside the ice cream parlor. Once I was sure they were safely inside I glare at the mob and with a flick of my wand set every camera caught on fire.
"Next time you try to take pictures of my underage daughter without my permission I will do more than set your cameras on fire. I will sue you for the invasion of privacy of a minor. She will not be used to feed your crazy media storm." I said in my coldest tone. Many took a step back at my threat and grabbed their cameras. At their scared faces I tone it down. "I as you to respectfully ask for permission next time. Springing on us like rabid animals do not endear you to her or me."
They tried to look ashamed but they really couldn't have cared less. As long as I provided them with the chance to be on the front page they d have didn't give a shit. For their sake, however, I hoped that they wouldn't try me.
Someone grabs my hands. It was an older man with tears in his eyes. "Thank you. Thank you, Miss Granger. The werewolf cure- there's not enough words for me to thank you, miss. You gave me a job, you gave me my life back. Thank you just, thank you." Someone tried to pull the man away and I glared at them.
"That will be enough. If you are incapable of respecting others then I suggest you make yourselves scarce for I rather spend the rest of my life listening of those that appreciate my work than with vultures that want nothing more than to see me bleed."
I grab the man again. "Thank you, sir, for believing in me enough to even try my cure. It warms my heart to see the people who I have helped have a better life. It is for people like you that I continue working."
Pressing a kiss (I blame the Native Americans for that) and my business card into his hand I watch him walk away and I turn to look back at the crowd of reporters that were watching my every move. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
They did not wait a second. "When did you arrive in Great Britain?"
"What are your plans now that you're back?"
"Did you leave Great Britain because you were pregnant?"
More and more questions were thrown my way but I focused on the reported who accused me of running away. "Let us get something straight. Quote me on this because it will be the last time I will say this." I glared at the reporter and took a deep breath. "I did not run away. I did my duty to this country while so many stayed in their homes and hid. While they were praying to Merlin I saw fighting for my life and my freedom. Are you telling me now that I didn't deserve the respite after being involved in the conflict from the moment I set foot in the magical world? My parents were out there without their memory so I had to fix that. For anyone of you to imply that I ran away is an insult to myself and pure hypocrisy on your part. After all, where were you when dozens of non-magical born needed you?"
Silence. Even the surrounding people shut up. If no one was going to acknowledge the fact that they were cowards then I would do the job for them. "I left Great Britain to become more than just the Man-Who-Won's Mudblood friend. I am an academic at heart and a soldier by necessity, so if I were you I would rethink your accusations. Yes, my daughter was part of the reason why I left the country, I would not bring her into this world knowing there were still Death Eaters roaming around, but she was not the main factor. She has enjoyed our travels, made friends all over and learned more languages than most people will ever consider to learn. I warn you now, do not print anything about her without my explicit permission."
Many seemed angry at my barring them from writing about the most interesting thing that my return had provided still, my previous answer took the heat off most of the reporters if only for fear of facing my wrath. Most were scribbling away in response to my little speech and those that weren't, still hanged to my every word and continued to ask questions. "What project are you going to work on in Great Britain Miss Granger?"
"I have no set project in mind. For the most part, I work as I go. I traveled all of Asia before I finally made my breakthrough in the cure to Lycanthropy. I toured South America and Africa before the idea occurred to me to create a translating charm. That being said-" An annoying screech cut me off.
"Are you saying then that you don't plan on working in Great Britain and bring prestige to your homeland? You left because you couldn't deal with the reconstruction of your homeland that you helped destroy and left in despair, and now can't even bring yourself to do some good to the people? How selfish of you Miss Granger."
I smile. "Rita Skeeter. How utterly disgusting to see you again."
She smiled back just as venomously. "You haven't answered the question, Miss Granger. Are you perhaps trying to avoid it?"
I laugh and finger my expensive pearls making sure that more than one reporter got sight of it. "You would know the answer to that question had you not so rudely interrupted. I have no idea which of my projects I will take up next but I will be teaching at Hogwarts for this upcoming year. More specifically I will be mentoring select students with their own projects and provide them with guidance as well as be a guest speaker for some lectures. I might even choose one or more to help me with my own project, whatever that may be. Did you catch that this time or must I repeat myself again with your old age and all Miss Skeeter."
Reporters were scrambling to write everything down. Well their Dicta quills did, they wrote their opinions down. This was news. There had been guest speakers at Hogwarts before but not the prospect of having students actually work on their own projects with them. That would definitely excite the student population.
"Who's the father Hermione?" Skeeter persisted since she couldn't embarrass me.
I'm unimpressed. "I haven't told her so why on earth would I tell a bunch of reporters? Evangeline has been able to read since she was four."
"Is it Neville Longbottom? The fiancée of you friend Luna Lovegood?"
"No, and anyone who sees her will know I speak truth. Now I've grown tired of you so this interview is over. Goodbye."
"Oh, and by the way Rita I was born in France. I had my pick between Beauxbatons and Hogwarts. So, no. Great Britain is not my homeland."
