Harry's stomach ached as he unlocked the door. "Hello" he called softly as he walked inside the bright house.

A woman with wispy white hair and intelligent eyes emerged from the kitchen. She looked at him curiously.

"Hermione."

Her smile was kind. "Who's that?"

o.o.o.o.

"The doctors say it's a terrible disease." Ron said miserably, staring out the window. Harry sat motionless across the table.

"And it'll only get worse over time?"

Ron nodded. "They told me to put her in a home."

A silence stretched between the two friends. Harry took a deep breath. "And?"

"Never."

He breathed out. "Good."

o.o.o.o.

Ginny shook her head sadly. "Her own name? Already?"

"It always was a bit long." Harry admitted, trying to coax a smile out of his wife.

"Still," Ginny said, "I'd never figure her for one to forget things."

"She can't help it!" Harry snapped.

Ginny put a hand on her cheek. "Still."

o.o.o.o.

"So, I'll need some help. Someone to watch her, just when I go out for medicine and things."

"Of course." Harry nodded. "I'd like to spend some extra time with her anyway."

Ron grunted and turned away. His shoulders began to shake. Harry removed his glasses and rubbed his face, and after a moment crossed the room and embraced his best friend.

o.o.o.o

"Thanks again," Ron said hurriedly, giving Harry a quick pat on the shoulder. "I hate to leave her alone anymore."

"Take your time." Harry replied, although Ron was halfway through the door.

He walked into the sitting room and perched on the end of a chair. Hermione sat quietly stirring a cup of tea gone cold. She was humming.

"Do you remember me?"

Her eyes searched his face and lingered on his scar. "You're Harry Potter." she said blankly.

Harry tried to smile at her, but couldn't quite manage it. "Just Harry. Remember? I'm your best friend."

"Mm." she replied, and went back to stirring her tea.

o.o.o.o

"It's bad today." Ron said gruffly.

"Hello," Harry said kindly. Hermione sat in her nightgown by the window. "Do you remember me?"

"I planted those roses." she said, pointing at the garden. "I like roses."

"Do you know why?" Harry asked. She shook her head.

Harry walked a few steps to the mantle and picked up a frame with Hermione's daughter in it, dancing across the kitchen. He handed it to her, and she stared at it for a long time, glancing up to look through the doorway to the kitchen.

"Alright," he said, breaking her concentration. "Shall we go for a walk, then?" Harry tried to take the picture from her, but Hermione held on tightly.

Finally Harry gave up, and they walked through the garden with the picture clutched tightly in her hand.

o.o.o.o

"She has hair like yours." Hermione stated, pointing at Ginny from across the dinner table. Ron chuckled and nodded.

Ginny snorted into her wineglass. "I hope mine's a bit thicker."

Ron laughed again and tried to hide his receding hairline with his hand. Hermione reached for his hand and pulled it from his forehead. "I think his is lovely."

The way Ron stared at her made Harry and look away.

o.o.o.o

"Hermione!" Ron called as he opened the door. "Harry's come to visit!"

"Harry!" she called, and hurried out of the bedroom. She was fully dressed in daytime clothes, a book in her hand. "How's Ginny?"

Ron beamed. "She's doing great today." he added under his breath on his way out.

"She's... I-" Harry stuttered, but Hermione had disappeared into the kitchen.

"Two sugars?" she called, and Harry's eyes misted over.

"Yes, always."

o.o.o.o

Harry walked up to the clerk with a handful of books. The clerk picked up a particularly heavy volume and looked at Harry with pity written on his face. "For Miss Granger, I suppose?"

"Weasley," Harry reminded, though it had never caught on. "But yes."

"I heard what happened to her. Such a shame. She always had a fine mind."

"The best." Harry said a bit too angrily, snatched up the books and left.

o.o.o.o

Harry unlocked the door and set the books down on the table. Hermione stood in the middle of the room and stared at him. "Hello." she said. "Who are you?"

"My name is Harry." he replied with a tight throat.

"Funny name." she said, and walked towards him. "What have you got with you?"

"Some books for you."

A smile spread across her face. "How kind." She reached for a heavy one and cracked it open, skimming through the pages. She set it down and continued the pattern with the next few books. Hermione looked up at Harry with the expression of one who is being tricked. "Why, these are all spell books."

"Yes." Harry said with much difficulty.

"You must like fantasy, then. I've never much cared for it."

Harry sat heavily in a chair and dropped his head into his hands.

"Are you alright?"

He didn't respond.

Ron walked into the room, looking quite disoriented as if he had just woken up. Hermione stared at him. "Hello. Who are you?"

o.o.o.o

"And she doesn't remember at all?"

Ron rubbed his eyes. "Depends on the day."

"And what about magic?"

"I try not to bring it up. Don't want to frighten her if it's a bad day."

Harry sighed angrily. He paced a few times and then kicked the wall so hard a bit of paint chipped off. Harry stared at the damage. "Sorry, mate."

Ron glanced around and then pulled out his wand to repair it. "I know."

o.o.o.o

Harry yanked his head up. He had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Hermione?" he called, but he didn't expect an answer. Harry poked his head into a few rooms and didn't find her anywhere. Finally he opened the door to the attic and, with protest from his bones, climbed the stairs. She was sitting in a musty chair next to a trunk, humming.

"What song is that?"

"I don't know."

The floorboards creaked under his feet as he walked to where she was sitting just under a thin ray of sunlight. The trunk was open and she was looking at something in her hands.

Harry's heart leapt to his throat as he realized what it was. "Where did you get those!" he asked, snatching the moving photograph out of her hands. It was one of the three of them at Hogwarts their first year.

"It's magic."

Harry's breath hitched as he looked at her. Her face was calm. "How do you know that?"

"Well it isn't science." she breathed, and he cracked a smile. "I remember, a little... Were we friends?"

"Best friends." he replied, shutting the lid to the trunk so he could sit with her. "We still are."

"My friend," she said, studying him, "What's your name?

"Harry."

"And my name?"

"Hermione."

"Hermione." She repeated. "It's a bit silly. But lovely. Do I look like a Hermione?"

"Yes. Exactly like one."

She laughed. "Harry," she said at length. "Tell me everything."

Harry shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me."

"Try."

"You saved the world."

"Did I?" she laughed. "How's that?"

"It's a long story."

"I'd love to hear it."

"Well," Harry said, shifting on the trunk and handing her the photo back. "One upon a time a little girl was born to two dentists. They all seemed normal enough, but this little girl was too bright to be ordinary..."