21st July 2017
A lot has happened in the past year. Harry still hasn't awoken but the healers are still happy with his recovery and say it shouldn't take too long now. Ginny has barley left his side, with Mrs Weasley supporting her as much as possible and making sure she is looking after herself as well as. I jump in when I can to sit with Harry taking on from Ginny when she needs to rest as does Ron, no one wants to leave him alone.
Ron and lavender have moved in together, and arranging a wedding later on this year. Ron proposed a month after the war had finished, they were on a needed holiday together when he popped the question. It was a struggle for the pair during the first few full moons, as the first few are always the worst as her body has not got used to the change but if anything it has brought them closer as a couple.
Teddy was put into my custody, we both are still mourning the loss of his parents and I believe we always will do, but for now we are happy as a little family.
Headquarters was still at Sirius's family home, we felt it was right to keep it here in loving memory to him and for Harry as this was now his home as well as. Moving out of the dingy lit room I moved into the the kitchen where everyone was sitting.
"so Hermione what is the plan" Ron asked with a mouth full of food, rolling my eyes and laughing when lavender hit him around the head I took a sea opposite him.
"America is the next stop!'
Over the past year the order has been gathering together all of the remaining death eaters that fled after the war. We have cleared up the majority in Europe but there was a few roaming around in America that needed to be sorted out and this was Hermiones mission.
"Neat when will we leave?" Ron asked as he pulled lavender close, "Ron, you are staying here, wait before you say anything" seeing how he was about to object "you need to make sure that we haven't missed anyone out here and your wedding is coming up" smiling towards Lavender, the unlikely pair had become good friends over the past year.
"I cant let you go there alone! You never know what might happen" trying to argue with her Ron was trying to stand his ground.
"Honestly Ron I will be fine and I promise if I need any help I will call you immediately" neither Ron nor Harry cared about how powerful I am, no to them I was the little sister that needed protecting, even though I was the one saving them half the time.
"Hermione is the toughest witch/wizard of time sweetie, she's not stupid either if she needs help she will ask for it" Lavender was trying to calm Ron down as everyone could see how he didn't like this decision.
"Listen to Lavender son, Hermione knows what she is getting herself into" Mr Weasley spoke as he smiled fondly at her.
"Ron we have asked Hermione to do this mission as she is the one with the means to carry it out, she will be provided with all of the given information and resources plus more. The American ministry are aware of her arrival and they are also aware to not interrupt" Kinglsey spoke up as he flooed into room, Kinglsey was immediately appointed as the Minister of Magic when Voldemort fell.
"Fine its not like you would listen to me anyway' Ron said whilst rolling his eyes "but you better promise me that if you need my help to call us immediately" looking directly into her eyes.
"I promise" I said with sincerity.
"Good. Now what was it that you wanted Kinglsey?" Ron asked whilst reaching over for more eggs. Chuckling Kinglsey took a seat opposite me and grabbed himself a cup of pumpkin juice "We need you to leave as soon as possible. You will need to meet Eloise she is the Mistress of Magic in America and she is awaiting your presence. She is aware of your mission and she also knows of the secrecy of it; she has been informed to leave you to do as you need and she is happy to oblige to this if you complete it as she wants no harm in her country. You will also need to get accustomed to the local area where you will meet a coven of vampires that will help to assist you as we believe they have information about the royal coven named the Volturi that is rumoured to be patterning up with death eaters". Taking a sip from his glass before continuing on he spotted the forms in front of her.
"I see Ed has given you all the appropriate forms…now I am entrusting that you still possess the bracelet you and the boys have between you?" After the duo nodded he continued "good, Hermione if any issues arises that requires assistance notify us immediately please and we can assure you if we need you this end you will be notified immediately" looking at the girl she knew he was being deadly serious she hadn't seen that expression on his face since the war.
"Of course Kingsley" I said with sincerity. He then turned to Ron.
"Can I trust that you will inform us of this if it is needed, I know what you lot are like" he tried to joke at the end but they could all hear the seriousness in his voice.
"Don't you worry Kingsley I will be on it!" He said with a mouth full of bacon, lavender hit him on the head and shouted manners and the table laughed.
"Right now I must be off, I have the joy of meetings all day" he sighed as he stood from the table "Good luck Hermione, it is all nearly over just you wait" with a farewell hug Kingsley apparatus back to the ministry. I have always admired Kingsley from the first day I met him he has always carried an authoritative role to him, and as horrendous as the war has been it has awarded him as the Minister of Magic and no one else but him deserves it and has helped the magical community to rebuild itself once again.
Before anyone could speak Ginny and Lavender rush over to me in a flurry, they both had a smirk on their face "You are going into muggle territory!" Ginny said accusingly.
"Yeahh?" I said confused as to where this leading.
"So you know what that means don't you…" Lavender said in the same tone, the girls then looked at each other before looking at me and they then shouted "SHOPPING" I couldn't help but laugh at this, of course the girls would find an excuse to go shopping.
"That is a very good point" since the war I've been trying to get used to the day to day life of a regular 20 year old but I did struggle.
"We'll leave in half an hour!" Lavender exclaimed as she kissed Ron on the cheek before moving to grab her things. As the girls left I took the advantage to speak to Teddy "Teddy whilst on this mission I am not going to be able to bring you down with me I am afraid. I cannot risk your safety. I have spoken to Mrs Weasley and she is going to take you under her wing whilst I'm away and both Ron and Lavender will look after you" looking down at the teenager she couldn't read his face her heart broke for him as he had been through so much with losing both of his parents, and it had just been them two for the year and I couldn't help but feel guilty about leaving him.
"Ron will bring you down in a few weeks and don't you worry even though I wont be here full time you will still be going to Hogwarts in September" he looked so much like Remus, smiling up at me I could tell he was excited about this.
"Will you see me off to school? Like all of the other kids families do?" He said shyly as he avoided my eyes, smiling I looked at him in the eye.
"Of course I will Teddy, I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"Don't worry buddy you and me will have a blast this summer, you'll love mione not being around!" Ton shouted out from the bottom of the table, rolling my eyes at this I couldn't but laugh Teddy grinned in excitement he loved playing quidditch with the Weasley's.
"Honestly Ronald if I hear that he has broken one bone in his body I will come for you!" Half joking, half serious as I shook my finger in his face Teddy couldn't help but laugh at this but Ron swallowed harshly as he knew what her bad side was like and didn't want to go there again.
"Nothing to worry about Hermione he will be in safe hands!"
"Hermione! Are you ready!?" Ginny shouted from the hall way smiling at this I looked down to Teddy.
"You wanna come with?" I joked with him as I piled the documents into my bag, laughing as his eyes widened about going shopping with the three girls he shook his head violently.
"Dont be silly mione, he'll come chill with me wont yah Ted?" Ron said as clapped the boy on his shoulder, with a nod in agreement Hermione kissed his head and walked to meet the girls.
"Hurry now! Before all of the shops close!" Lavender called out, looking at my watch it said it was only 11am shaking my head I followed the girls out.
They first went to Diagon alley to get all of the wizarding essentials, Diagon Alley had been given a refresh and a new look. It had life and soul back again, no one cowered in fear anymore. After popping into the apocroathy for all of her potion needs, and having a look into the book store they headed into Weasley's Wizarding whees; since Fred passed away in the war George hadn't been himself but you could see that he was slowly adapting. Angelina was angel for him, she has been there since the beginning and hasn't left his side since, Lee was also there to help him as much as he could - George had recently given him joint partnership as he felt that is what Fred would of wanted. And as duo the business carried on to thrive. The girls turned into the shop so they could go and say hello, walking in they were surrounded with students from Hogwarts all looking to get all of their essentials for the new term.
"Alright there sissy' George said to Ginny as he walked up to the girls, giving them all a one armed hug.
"I hear you are off on a top secret adventure Granger, looking for some prime essentials are we?" He joked with me, amid what everyone thought the pair actually got along very well and he saw her as apart of his family.
"What can I say George they only give them to the important ones" I joked back with him. Rolling his eyes he showed her to some new hair taming potion that is her top seller. "ive reinvented the formula, it now has a tropical smell to it and it also gives your hair a shimmer…i feel that you lacked this seeing as you have no fella, now I can guarantee you'll have all those lads coming your way" wiggling his eyebrows as he winked at me I couldn't help but laugh.
"ahh George thank you for thinking about me" I joked as I picked up a bottle, I also picked up some sweets and a few other beauty potions.
"Right we best be off George, will you and Angelina be over for tea tomorrow?" Ginny asked as the girls went to purchase their items, waving his hand at the girls he refused any money off them "Don't be silly you lot, you are all family and for this one time you can have family rates. Yea Ginny please inform mother dearest that she should expect our appearance"he said as he jokingly puffed out his chest as if he was superior; we all couldn't help but to laugh at this.
"Come 'ere Granger and give us a hug!" He exclaimed as he dramatically held out his arms for a hug, smiling I hugged the red head.
"Let me know if there is anything I can do for you and look after yourself alright" I said to him as I broke the embrace, smiling at her he nodded.
Taking a turn out of Diagon Alley the girls continued to the muggle shops and started on Oxford street; they purchased everything you could imagine. They stocked up on underwear, jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses, shoes and sports gear; at the end of the day all of them were barrelling around heaps of bags.
"Eugh how do muggles deal with this" Ginny exclaimed as she sat down in little cafe, rubbing her arms to help put the blood circulation back.
Looking at my purchases "I definitely wont struggle with fitting in thats for sure".
"Ohh are you excited! There is just so much to see in America! You can go visit New York, California, Florida! Just imagine how beautiful it will be and you know what comes with beaches? Hot guys!" Lavender giggled at the end, she was excited for her friend.
"Ooo yeah! Just think you could get yourself a beach hunk!" Ginny squealed, rolling my eyes I smiled at the girls as they humoured each other.
"Truthfully though Hermione open yourself up to new possibilities, I know you are going for a reason but there is nothing stopping you from going out living your life in the process" Ginny said.
She knew she was right in what she said, but everyone had someone to fall onto after the war but she didn't. Ginny had her family and the hope of Harry, Lavender had Ron, Ron had Lavender and his family and Teddy had her; but she didn't have anyone. I felt too imposing to speak to the others as they all had hardships to deal with themselves so had pushed all of those emotions to the side. I had trained herself to not concern herself with these feelings during the war and she didn't fancy letting them out now. During the war she was known as the deadly weapon on the light side, as they walked through Diagon Alley she heard all the whispering and pointing as the girls walked past, some parents even ushered their children away from her as they walked through.
The girls had noticed that my thoughts had trailed off as I remained quiet, Ginny knew where my thoughts had led to.
"Honestly Hermione don't even listen to them, you were the light that everyone needed through the past how ever many years. They weren't pointing and staring when you was the one defending and fighting for them" Ginny exclaimed as she flared her arms up in annoyance.
"Ginny is right Hermione, you might have this reputation for yourself but you are also the kindest person as well as. Even though they know as this deadly weapon, we know you as the girl that would put any of their lives in front of your own. I am proof of that as you have helped me more than I can thank you for" Lavender agreed with the red head.
Smiling at the two I couldn't help but embrace them both into a group hug.
"Thank you both, you honestly don't know how much that means to me" I said as I let them go "Im worried about Teddy, I'm scared he's putting this front of but on the inside its eating him up" I knew i could look into his mind, but I didn't want to intrude on his personal thoughts.
"He's a teenager Hermione, I wouldn't worry. Can't you remember what Harry and Ron were like at that age, he's just a typical teenage boy" Ginny joked.
"And he'll be in Hogwarts soon with all of his friends, and I am sure Ron will come down with him to visit as well" Lavender pipped in, smiling at this I thanked the girls for their support.
As they finished up the girls got up and headed back to the headquarters. They all needed a girls day out to say goodbye and just to spend some time away with each other; heading straight into the living room the girls sectioned out all of the contents of the bags and placed them accordingly into my bag. I had altered the appearance of my trusty bag, deciding to change it from the original beaded bag to a new designer shoulder bag.
Teddy was in the games room with Ron, the boys were playing a game on a muggle console after they figured out how to play it you couldn't tear them away from it. Rolling their eyes we joined the boys and watched as Teddy beat Ron on multiple occasions. After the fourth defeat Ron shucked the controller to the side "I let him win" he said childishly.
"Of course you did dear" lavender laughed as she kissed him on his forehead. Teddy grinned up at me with his triumph clearly pleased with him, laughing at this they all joked and entertained themselves for a further hour. Everyone was trying to prolong the time for as long as they could, as they knew I was going to leave soon and no one wanted that to happen. Ginny was the first to stand up as she was going to go and see Harry before tea.
"Promise me that you will stay in contact!" She said as she sprawled her arms around me, "of course I will Ginny, and please keep me up to date with Harry!" I said as I looked at my best friend. With a teary goodbye the red head left the room, Lavender was next to hug me "who would of thought we would be here now hey granger?" She joked as she let go "please be safe, we both need you here for our wedding" laughing at this it was something that she would come out with but I knew she cared.
"What am I going to do without you and Harry not here…"Ron said as he moved over to his best friend "..You bloody better look after yourself you hear me, I mean it!" He said in a parental tone smiling at this I embraced him "and don't you worry, I'll keep an eye on Teddy for you" tearing up I gave him a tight embrace. "Thank you Ron and you will be fine! And by the sounds of it Harry will be up and about sooner than you know ir!" Ron and lavender left the room to leave her and Teddy alone. As soon as he left the boy ran up to me and held me tight.
"I promise I will be fine mione! I have all of the Weasleys here and remember I am the son of a maurderer" he cheekily smiled at me "and don't you forget it mister" I said winking at him as I ruffled his hair. "I will be back soon so I can see you off to school and I am sure before then Ron will bring you out to visit" kissing him on the head I grabbed hold of his hand as I led him into the kitchen. Everyone rushed over to say a final goodbye, Teddy rushed to Rons side and he put a calming hand on his shoulder in support.
"Right guys I am now off, I will see you all soon!" With a final goodbye and a last look at Ron and Teddy I apparatus out of headquarters into New York City.
