Chapter 8

They started at 9 in the morning of 6th October with early breakfast and went to France then reached Italy at night. There they needed to get their magical passport sealed as they were leaving Europe air and entering Africa.

They took an early commercial portkey to Egypt next morning. They reached Egypt at 10 in the morning. Egypt was a popular tourist destination amongst wizards too and its international portkey bay had good eating places. They were informed that the next portkey would be to Singapore and would take almost 3 hours to reach. It was one of the most exhausting and magically draining journey and they needed to eat well, use the lavatory facility and needed to get a physical examination done. Then after a new seal they ate and went to queue for medical checkup. Harry went to the international magical cooperation office and producer the letter from the British MoM. The wizard there cleared them up with a special healer and they were all set to move. At the bay they were given a concoction to sustain their magic from decay in long distant portkey. It was compulsory to have for all who travelled from Egypt to Singapore. It was a lemony sweet fruit pulp and Hermione found out that it was made up of Persimmon fruit and miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum). They were also given a bandana each to keep the hair two themselves. Sometimes hairs being dead cells mix with each other.

They were taken on a large disk with 8 cots all had belt attached to them. They were going to cross an ocean and hence the security measures. They took the cots lay down, fastened the belts and was magically bound and waited. At 12 noon they went spinning away with a sensation of gravity pulling on their bellybutton. When Harry woke up it was night in Singapore. He saw the time on the wall clock to be 10 at night and found himself on a bed in a large hall. When he sat up a lady came with a very unique looking fruit and a large glass of liquid. He saw around and found Hermione in the next bed. The lady ordered him to eat and drink and went too wake up Hermione. As Hermione woke up another lady came with same diet. He didn't know how to eat them and asked Hermione for help. Hermione said that it was mangosteen and took out a knife below the leaf on which it was kept and cut them into two. She said each of white pods inside was edible but each of them had a stone inside, which was not to be consumed as it was bitter and she started eating. Harry followed her. Then they had the glass and said it was coconut water. She laughed and said they are finally in tropic. While they were finishing Hestia and Healer Strout appeared with their plate and glass. The Healer said that the fruit was full of Vitamins and Minerals which boost the magical core. And the coconut water was very healthy and hydrating and also helps in flow of magic through the body.

But it was almost 10:30 at night Harry exclaimed. Hermione explained that it was to be expected singe the time difference of Cairo and Singapore was 6 hours. They started at 12 hence reached here around 3 of Cairo time which would be 9 in Singapore. The lady who served them the fruits came and took them into a smaller room where they found a man waiting for them. He introduced himself as Mr. Lee Tong. He said that he was the representative of the Singapore MoM who worked as the terminal control and took their passport to seal them. He informed that the next Portkey was at 4:30 next day to Sydney so they should stay inside the bay. There is a small canteen inside if they were hungry. In the morning the lady on duty would help them if requires.

They went to the canteen and had noodle soup with vegetables in it which was only available at that time. They were feeling very tired and went back to the hall and took their bed. All of them fell asleep almost immediately due to the exhaustion.

Suddenly a very sharp sound made Hermione, Harry and Hestia shot up on the bed. It seemed that it was an alarm for departure. They woke up the Healer and got ready. Outside dawn was yet to break. They took a small plate portkey for Sydney. When they reached Sydney it was bright sun outside. They were at Gosford Glyphs. It was a magical town with considerable population. Percy had booked 2 rooms in Penang Inn. 8th October was the most dreaded day of Hermione's life. Today she would meet her parents after the fateful day of early June last year when she altered their memory and left. Mr. Smith at the reception said that there was a flood situation in Victoria and Tasmania due to which there was a gusty wind last few days. Monsoon may come early that year. Hermione had a tempest brewing in her head. If there was anything there it was her plans. That was what she did the best, analyze and plan. She didn't like to be unprepared, but what to prepare for the current event. She felt her stomach turn violently and ran to the rest room. When she came out Harry had called Madam Strout who came in and gave her a vial of Calming Draught. Then Hestia told them the easiest way to go to Pitt street was to floo to magical part of Bankstown Bunker in the closed side of the museum. Then they might be take a train from Bankstown Central to Town Hall station and then walk. There was a train at 11:30 which would drop them to Town Hall station around 12:15. Harry said that it was a perfect idea and they were tourist; so they would move around and go to Pitt Street Mall.

Thus they had a heavy brunch except for Hermione who had dry toast and coffee to settle her stomach as well as her nerves. 10:30 in the morning they transfigured their clothes in muggle denims and shirt or tops and took the floo to the museum. From there they followed the planed route, bought the ticket, boarded the train and got down at Town Hall station. All four of them were fluent in muggle ways and hadn't much problem. Outside the station they walked towards the Pitt Street mall. In one corner of the street they found the confectionery. Hermione casted a muggle repealing charm and they went in and were greeted by her father smiling at them. Harry caught her hand and pulled her back and she went to look at the treats. Harry and Hestia went and chat up her father and mother and she and Madam Strout went to the racks. Madam Strout instructed Hermione to stand in such a way that the healed wouldn't be seen by the parents. As Hermione adjust her position Madam Strout took out a small wand of the size of a pen and started casting diagnostic charms. About 10 minutes they talked and she casted. At the end Hermione bought a pouch of sugar free peppermint globule and they went back.

When they went back to the inn Madam Strout went straight to her room took out pen and paper and started writing and casting priori incantation. They all went in her room and waited patiently. Then the healer came and said that what Hermione had done was a variation of normal Obliviate which incorporated a mixture of some kind of transfiguration. So the prefrontal cortex of her parents was changed.

She then gave Hermione the Arithmancy equation and told her to do the backward interpolation considering suitable time and movement interval. Hermione took the paper, went to her room and started. She went on and on and on. When the rest went for dinner she pleaded to be excused and so Harry ordered a room service for her. The three went to have food with the healer in grim face. She said that Hermione had done her job too perfect and no one could read their memory and get any thread of link with her. It was beautiful and perfect and impossible to revert as of now. The changes she had created were so random that prediction would be impossible. And the time had taken toll and stacked up new memory on the modified ones.

When Harry came back from lunch Hermione didn't even register his presence. Nor she did the next day and Harry went to the next room worried. The healer said that Harry should let Hermione try. He just needed to keep an eye on her food and fluid consumption. So Harry dutifully ordered meal for Hermione three times a day for next two days. Then there was a decision to make. 13th morning when Harry woke Hermione was not working but seating by the window and was looking outside. When Harry came up to her she looked up. There was so much sadness in her eye but also a determination.

Next everything went on in very fast. Hermione needed to go back home fast so they wrapped up everything fast and left. 16th morning found them in no12. Hermione went to freshen up and get ready to go to Hogwarts. She didn't talk much and left in a hurry. Just after she left Percy came in. Then they sat back in a lazy breakfast and Harry gave the detail of the tour. No one knew what to say. Andromeda asked whether she went to Septima. Harry nodded and said that she needed the professor check.

Next few days Hermione stayed in Hogwarts. And 3rd week of October brought the results and all was good. Harry and Neville got enough NEWTs to become Auror with Harry excelling in DADA and Neville in Herbology.

Dean got excelled in charms. Padma, Theo, Anthony, Susan, Blaise and Terry god very good result as did Justin and Michael. All in all the teachers were very happy. After a long time they had got a batch who had excelled so much in all fields.

Padma and Theo joined Prof. Flitwick almost immediately. Neville and Harry got letter from auror office accepting their application. Dean was getting ready to move to Paris to work under Leo Iché the magical painter. Anthony was taken apprentice under Hippocrates Smethwyck. Susan had problem in her house but fought it out and joined Anthony under Hippocrates Smethwyck.

Terry got in the Wizarding Examinations Authority as trainee. Michael got into Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team! In the mean time Andromeda talked to Hermione. They discussed for long hours.

And then Hermione Granger wrote to Prof. Mulliken in Salem that she will be joining on 1st week of November.

Ron and Ginny and the Weasley family were so wrapped up in their grief and Molly's insecurities of loosing another child that they almost caved them in Burrows for the last five or so months. But the young people had a tendency to spring back. So after almost six months of locking himself in their childhood room which he shared with his twins, George Weasley came out one morning grim faced had his breakfast and without answering any question apparate away before anyone could hold him.

Thus opened Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes again, with a stone faced George Weasley. George upon reaching the shop started cleaning when one by one his classmates started coming up suddenly. He was clearing out a cage off pygmy puff when Lee Jordan suddenly appeared from nowhere and snatched the cage out of his hand and went out to clear it. Then came Ron and started to open the windows to air the shop. Then dropped in Alicia and Angelina and started with the broom mop and duster to clean up. Ginny joined in with sandwich and tea for everyone. So they went on cleaning the shop without much word. Around 2 in the afternoon Percy came with two other people to connect the floo. They cleaned up the fire place and connected it with the floo network. Then they required getting George's signature on the papers. So Percy enquired for him. Ron called him loudly but no one answered. They checked the shop, outside the doors, the store room the basement laboratory but couldn't find him. Suddenly Ginny shouted and called Ron and Percy from the 1st floor. Ron and Percy looked each other and taking two steps at a time all went up. George was sitting in his bed and looking on the other bed white faced. On the other bed was Fred's discarded cloths and a hair brush with some hair on it was in George's hand. Percy went and kneeled down on the floor beside George. Ginny followed and sat on the bed beside him and gave him a hug. Percy eased out the brush from his hand and passed back. Lee took it and cleaned out the hairs and kept the brush in front of the mirror. Alicia and Angelina hold each other's hand and stood in silence. George hugged Ginny and sat there with tears flowing from both of them. After some times the floo people came up to get the papers and Percy signed on behalf of George and send them away and signaled Lee and Ginny to take him downstairs. Then Ron and Percy started cleaning. All lost track of time only came back in sense when Fleur and Bill came in with food.

Fleur and Ginny went to the kitchen to take out plates and Bill went up to call Ron and Percy and Ron told him about the whole event. When they went down George and Lee were in deep discursion about the shop and the products. Ron said he was free and could give them a hand in shop. Fleur said they could also start a Wizarding Wireless Network channel of their own. They were excited and thought it as good idea. Angelina was free and would love to join them. Alicia was playing in Holyhead Harpies as casher and would come over in free times.

So the shop started again and for the inauguration, everyone was invited. Too many people came to see the war heros rather than to buy. Nice story came up in prophet about loses and resilience of the man who had lost his twins, half of his existence.

Another thing happened very unexpectedly. Molly Weasley interrogated Hermione about her trip. Where did they went, why had they not informed anyone else, who went with them and why Harry? Ron and Ginny too were not happy but didn't say anything. Molly went on and on and on about how Hermione had risked Harry and how young people were so irresponsible at times. Hermione was elder in age and was suppose to be more responsible. How things would have gone worst and Harry might get hurt. What was so important Molly could not understand for her life. They just came out of the war. The Weasleys have sacrificed so much and everything would be in vain for foolishness of the people who did not want to have any responsibility with the world that had given them refuge. Arthur tried to detract but was not successful. Hermione tried to pacify her then gave up and wanted to leave.

Ron came and said that his Mum was anxious about their safety. Hermione said that it did not give his mother any right to bully her. At this Ron got angry and said that his mother and his family had done enough for everyone concern. She was being very ungrateful by saying such thing. Hermione looked at him for some time and then turn around and left. Only Luna knew about this interaction and told Neville to go after Hermione. Neville went to no12 in search of her. In the shop Harry was talking to Bill when Dean came and asked about Hermione. Neville couldn't find her in no12. So everyone started to search. At this time Molly commented that it was very ungracious of Hermione to hide and make people search her. It was so uncharacteristic of her that Harry was surprised. Molly also said to Harry that he should let go of all the responsibilities as he had done more than enough for all and had earned himself a good restful life. Everything would come back eventually. Molly was a mother figure for so long. Everyone thought of the pain and stress she was going through after the war and didn't say anything to upset her more. Arthur convinced Molly to go home.

Ron then asked Harry about the trip with Hermione. Why he was not informed? He could have come with them. Harry said that he was busy with family and his family needed him too. So she didn't want to intrude in the time of grief with their problem. Harry told Ron that he owed Hermione that trip after all she had done and sacrificed for him. Ginny unable to stop herself commented that so had Ron done too.

Bill came in and said that they were acting childish and should stop this nonsense at once. Hermione had gone to Hogwarts and has messaged to Andromeda who just flooed them to inform. Neville had gone to Hogwarts too and will bring her back in no12. Luna said she too would go back to Hogwarts as it was getting late and took the floo. Dean said that he was going back to no12 and thanked George for inviting him. There was something in the way Dean looked that Harry took with him too.

When upon no12 they found Luna waiting. Luna asked Harry, what was going on and why Mrs. Weasley and Ron were hustling Hermione. Did Hermione compel Harry to go with her against his wishes? Was it a very dangerous mission and was there a chance that Harry would die? Harry looked as if Luna had finally lost her mind. Dean said he, Neville and Luna was sitting with Ron in the kitchen table while Hermione was making tea when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came in. Upon seeing Hermione Mrs. Weasley started the interrogation and went on questioning and commenting. Then when Hermione tried to leave Ron had a confrontation. He didn't like the tone they were taking on her.

Then when Hermione came back with Neville her eyes were red. She directly went to bed. Andromeda told them to give her some time. Luna said she would stay and went to the room she shared with Hermione.

Next morning Harry found a letter from Salem Massachusetts for Hermione. She came down and read the letter at breakfast table and informed everyone that she would be leaving for Salem in the end of this month. Harry was very upset about it and left the table without a word. Hermione ran after him. After half an hour both came down with red eye and smile in their faces and finished the breakfast.

So on 29th Hermione would leave and Harry, Dean Neville would go to see her off from Heathrow Airport. Luna would also join them. Since travel ban was still their rather than requesting the Minister again Hermione had opted for Muggle means from London to Boston. There someone will come to pick her up.

28th she went to meet her professors in Hogwarts. When she came back in the evening she was faced by many friends for her farewell. Even Lavender was there, who has just been release from the hospital, the previous day, on a wheel chair pushed by Parvati. They all talked, laughed, danced and had good time.

Next day in the airport they found Ron with Percy. Ron shouted at her for not telling about her leaving the country and then pooled her in a crushing hug said sorry and said how much ever they fight she was his best friend.

Hermione waived them bye and went off.