Confessions From The Infirmary
The Master leaves the room as gracefully but melancholy as possible, a side of him Hermione may never see again follows him out. She will miss it; this moment in this hospital bed will be a moment Hermione will always look back upon whenever people questioned the man's judgment. After a story like that, she now questioned the true line between enemies and friends, lovers and rivals, right and wrong. She has come to realise that the enemy you fear most is the enemy you know as much as you know yourself. That there is a lot more to being enemies than just hating each other, it's not as simple as that. Sometimes a lot of the hate you have for someone is because you care for them still in some indescribable way, despite how their wrongdoings affect you. The enemy to fear most is the ally you once adored.
Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin began as friends when they founded Hogwarts alongside Helga and Rowena. Couldn't stand each other's guts in years to come.
Merlin and Morgana. Both as close to King Arthur as you can get, he could seem to never differentiate who he would support because he was too close to the pair of them. Right to the end he never chose a side between the wizard and witches horrific feud.
And despite Hermione's desire to block out as much of the historical rumour mill as possible, she can't help but memorize a certain aspect of Dumbledore and Grindelwald's rivalry that originally had her incredibly dubious. But now, she isn't so sure.
She could now list Dominic Van Barr and Octovius Desmaggio to the list of examples.
Hermione also notices Ashley and Jessie leaving. The weak excuses and body language looks somewhat suspicious. Hermione would guess they were aiming for a discreet exit but for the life of her Hermione could not work out why. What she is not surprised about is the lone girl left behind, as solemn and forlorn as Hermione has ever seen her.
Hermione tries not to stare, panning her head around the room as if looking for things to start a conversation. "I didn't realise the time, it's gone lunchtime. No wonder I am so hungry."
"I could grab you something…a couple of sandwiches, some pumpkin juice? Are your cuts hurting? Do you want me to get Pomfrey, she could give you some more pain relief po-?" Alexis frets, eyes observing Hermione's body like an eagle.
"Some food will be great. And I can barely feel my cuts. Thank you though." Hermione replies warmly.
"Hey, no problem. I-I will go get you some food then…be right back."
Hermione's hand shoots out and grab Alex's wrist. "Hold up, not yet. Stay a bit longer."
"But you're hungry, you need your strength."
Hermione shakes her head, silly grin lighting up her face. "What I need right now is a human being to talk to. It has been a rather exhausting morning and I would prefer a friendly face to keep my mind off things."
Alexis quickly nods her head. "You're right. Erm…what did you want to talk about?"
Hermione chuckles. "Firstly, Mother Hen, I'm perfectly fine. And secondly…" Hermione hesitates and her face turns serious "…I'm sorry."
Alexis frowns. "What on earth are you apologizing for?"
"It couldn't have been easy to sit and watch me, I know you now to the point where I know you probably wanted to blast the tomb to smithereens in search of me." Hermione responds with a small teasing smile.
"That's to be expected. It's not grounds for an apology. Not that it was easy to watch, far from it, but you should definitely not be apologizing. If anything I'm more proud of you than I've ever been." Alex replies honestly.
"I appreciate that, but just let me apologise this once." Hermione pleads.
"This is stupid, you're stupid, but fine I accept your apology."
Hermione smiles. "Where is Harry, Ron and Ginny? I'm surprised they are not suffocating me in a three way hug right now."
"Trust me they would definitely be here had they not been forced to attend their classes. But McGonagall insisted. Their lesson is almost over so you'll see them in a few minutes I presume." Alexis explains.
Hermione's eyes widen. "I'm missing a lesson?! I need to go, I can't skip classes!"
"Damn it girl, worry about yourself for a change, studies can wait."
"Studies can NOT wait!"
"Ron is bringing your homework, and you are not expected to attend in your condition. I also doubt Pomfrey or McGonagall will allow you to lift your bum from that bed for a millisecond until you're better."
Hermione sulks. Alexis pinches her cheek. "Come on, do you really have it in you to replace me with boring old Herbology?"
"If you pinch my cheek again I will find it in me to replace you with Snape."
"Quit sulking like a toddler then. Or you could continue and I sit here admiring that cuteness all day."
Hermione blushes and the mood changes. It doesn't turn negative exactly, but it's no longer happy. Hermione is scared to make eye contact with Alex, which is probably a good thing because it leaves Alex to debate on about whether she should ask or not. Hermione is sensing a question in the air, without looking up she finally says "You are not replaceable Alex. You are the only person getting me through this. I'm nothing without your help."
Alexis shakes her head. "You still don't get it. This is not about me, it's not even about you. This whole ordeal, this test, is about the four of us. The objective of this whole idea is to make the team strong. We're a chain. We lost a link and are therefore weakened. To make us strong again we need a link just as strong. You would not be here if there was a chance that you didn't have that strength in you." Alexis encourages.
"You put it there." Hermione insists.
"It has always been there." Alex grabs Hermione's hand and grips it tight. They hold hands seamlessly, often squeezing every now and then. Winning the battle in Alexis head, her profound confidence boosts her decision to finally ask Hermione the question.
Still holding Hermione's hand, Alex says. "I can't keep it in any longer. You have done it now, you've done something to me that is confusing, frustrating, morally questionable and an absolute nightmare to control. I wouldn't trade it for any other emotion known to humankind and it's happened so quickly and so easily."
Fully expecting a tongue-lashing Hermione shrinks low into the bed.
"I can't spend another day without telling you the truth and denying myself happiness."Alexis takes a breath. "At Christmas time there will be a ball, many people will have dates to said ball and you above all must have one. Boys will be falling over themselves to go to this ball with a champion, friendship will be far from their minds. Tradition will not allow same sex partners either. There is a major chance that you will go to this ball with some bulky hunk who will attempt to charm his way into your heart...and perhaps your knickers if he is bold enough to. I hereby want to make sure that does not happen, and to make sure of this there is only one way I know that I will be successful. In a nutshell, what I'm trying to say is I very much like you romantically and would be honoured to watch you dance at the ball with a guy, safe in the knowledge that your heart belongs to me."
Hermione clutches her chest, that is the most romantic thing anyone has said to her. She must've been mistaken right. She heard her wrong, there's no way that she was asking tha- "Hermione, would you like to go on a date with me?"
...
"Mental he is, greatest auror in the world is as crazy as a Cornish Pixy." Ron scoffs as Mad-eye hobbles out of sight. He has just finished admonishing the three Gryffindor for running in the corridors, a threat of limb loss imminent if he catches them doing so again.
"Moody, they got that one right didn't they?" Ginny agrees.
"More pressing matters, Hermione should be awake now." Harry advises.
Ron throws him a knowing glare. "And what exactly will you say to the girls supporting her?"
Harry gIares back. "I was thinking of being rude but I guess I'm better than that, I will just politely tell them to piss off."
"Closely followed by them politely sending you onto your back." Ron returns.
Ginny rolls her eyes. "Oh for Merlin's sake, here we go with the BIA conspiracy again. Is it not possible that maybe they enjoy Hermione's company. There may even be a slight possibility that they are friends."
"I'm with you Sis, it's the green eyed monster here that needs convincing." Ron states.
"You don't understand, of course Hermione is happy around them that is their goal. They have gained Hermione's trust and look what's been happening to her." Harry defends.
"You're making it sound like they're the reason Hermione is involved, they're not. Hermione brought it on herself, she admits that." Ginny adds.
Harry rubs his forehead, seemingly soothing a headache. "Take this the right way or wrong way, but it's the truth that Hermione's judgement is poisoned. You all need to step back and take a larger view of the situation. With these people in the frame, Hermione will never be safe."
Ginny stops him in his track, causing Ron to skid to a halt with them. "It's you who doesn't understand Harry. You and Hermione need to talk, I promise you you'll feel differently afterwards."
Harry could continue if he wants to, but something in Ginny's statement silences that urge. It isn't filled with frustration or anger, it is fueled by sadness. It makes the whole point that much more sincere.
None of them speak until eventually they turn up at the door of the infirmary. Casually they open the door and they probably wish that they had braced themselves instead. As they walk in their eyes widen at the first thing that grasps their attention.
Laying back on the bed with her arms around Alex and her lips softly exploring the contours of the girls mouth, is the supposed out-of-action Gryffindor champion. From their spot it certainly looks like the champion is getting plenty of action.
A mix of reactions await this scene. Ginny is clampinng her hand firmly over her mouth, smothering her laughter with it. Ron has lost all composure and looks halfway between drooling on the floor and laying an egg. Harry, surprisingly, substitutes his loathing for pure awkwardness.
If Hermione or Alexis notice them they either didn't know who they were or didn't care. Who could blame them for either?
Attention is finally averted to them when Ginny clears her throat. Surprise is evident on their face, but so is the beaming smiles.
"Not interrupting are we?" Ginny says, knowing full well they are.
"Yes. We were expecting you though so I can't exactly chagrin any of you. Also I did almost kill myself so it is great to see you all." Hermione returns.
"Yeah Granger. Scare us half to death why don't you." Ron berates insincerely.
"I second that" Alex adds.
"You don't get to say that. I apologized to you." Hermione tells her playfully.
"I guess. Besides you didn't need to."
Harry rolls his eyes. "Perfect. Now she's becoming intimate with her, I hope you like the infirmary Hermione cause you will be here a lot being associated with her."
"Harry!" Hermione scolds, but then she shakes her head. "You know what, I'm done with caring what you think anymore. Stay out of my business with Alexis if you have a problem with it."
"I wish I could, but your safety means a lot to me." Harry softly replies.
"And judging my decisions is keeping me safe? Instead of warning me off Alex maybe you should be helping her. You will find you're more alike than you think." Hermione punctuates this point by glancing warmly at the older girl.
Before Harry could challenge her Ginny cuts him off. "That's why he's here. Ron will give you some lesson notes and homework, and me and him will be off. You and Harry are gonna put your heads together and get things sorted, if Alexis doesn't mind that is?"
"Not at all, you two should sort things out and I won't stand in the way of that." She says. Leaving no room for argument the three extras leave the room, Ron carelessly tossing a handful of parchment onto the bedside table.
Harry lightly takes a seat on the edge of the bed, Hermione watches cautiously. "Let me have my say, then you can berate me to the hills and I won't say a thing. But just hear me out." Harry pleads. "You know that ninety-nine percent of the time I trust you undoubtedly, you are the most trustworthy person I know, but there is still that one percent. That one percent is not a flaw or an issue on your part, you don't need to answer for it. But like any human being you are vulnerable to emotional distortion. When emotion is involved the truth becomes unnoticeable, remember with me and Sirius. All the evidence of Peter Pettigrew was right in front of me and I still had this huge loathing for my godfather. I'm not saying this is the opposite of that and Alexis and the others are out to get you, I'm just saying that you need to keep an open mind. Maybe they are not what you think they are, maybe they are, but you need to step back in order to work it out. I know I've been doing a shoddy work of it, but I've been trying to get that point across. In my own stupid way I'm looking out for you. You understand?"
Hermione touches the back of his hand, he enjoys the soothing coolness her skin has on him. "I do understand, but it's you who doesn't. It's partly my fault... I'll get onto that later, but Harry I'm not being close-minded, my mind has never been more open. Do you not understand that maybe you are being close-minded. You haven't even had a proper conversation with Alex or Ashley or Jessie. You haven't listened to me, Ron and Ginny. You haven't even been civil enough to see the good side of them. Your first instinct and last is to protect me, I adore you for that. But you've unnecessarily gone too hard on it that you made your mind up way too early, and your stubbornness kept you there. And the worst part is I'm having to chose who to stick up for, and the way you have been has given me less motivation to support you. Now I'm resorting to keeping potential love interests from you because I'm scared of your reaction. I don't want to let you down, this thing needs to stop and only you can help yourself with that." Hermione blinks a tear back, tilting her head backwards. When she composes herself she adds "And it is my fault because I never told you the truth to begin with, for reasons purely for the safety of myself and the girls, and it has resulted in you being left with wrong information. The girls and I, we are not some award-winning witches. The BIA is for Brunettes In Arms, it's a secret defence group who specialize in taking down global threats. These girls have the skill to take Voldemort down with ease, and the whole tournament thing is not just a competition, it's my initiation."
Harry is gobsmacked. Hermione can see him mulling the information over and silently prays that he doesn't flip out. "So they did force your name out of the Goblet?"
"No Harry, I can swear to you that someone did rig the Goblet, but it had nothing to do with Alex, Ashley or Jessie. The Master, the director of the group, he specifically noted that I had to be chosen fairly."
"So why weren't you? Why were you still accepted if you had not been chosen fairly?" Harry asks.
"Because The Master was convinced it would've done had I truly believed in myself. I had doubts and according to him it's the fact I doubted myself that affected me not being chosen."
Harry thinks hard. "Has it not occurred to you that maybe HE rigged the goblet?"
Hermione goes to answer but stumbles on her words. Hermione has never thought of it that way. It didn't occur to her before now that maybe he influenced the Goblet. He is powerful enough certainly. He is fully supportive of her, and she knew the Master would not waste this opportunity to find a new member as the BIA can't afford to wait. And he did not seem that bothered by her controversy, more bothered at how his team was functioning.
But that doesn't explain the sabotage job someone tried on her regarding the first task? Maybe it is Desmaggio, looking to thwart the Master's plan on claiming a new BIA member. Something in her gut tells her that it is all consequential, she decides to bring it up to the girls later.
"I can't answer that for sure, the girls and I will work out what's been going on lately. I just apologize for not telling you this, maybe you might've understood."
Harry frowns. "I feel no differently, I still think being associated with them is bad for you. Heck, it's worse than I thought because this could get you killed."
"Harry, I chose this, it was my decision and mine alone."
"You wouldn't have had to choose if they didn't come along."
"That's not the point."
"It is because it is still down to them that you could die, they gave you the option and you for some reason chose to be a part of this group. They came to you, you didn't come to them."
"Harry, you are twisting it."
"I'm saying it how I see it."
Hermione huffs, feeling frustration building. "Harry, they came to me, explained everything, gave me an option and I chose one."
"And why do they just get to walk up to people and ask them to put their life on the line?"
"One of them died Harry, they wouldn't be here if they think that I'm not needed."
"Why are you needed? Can't the three of them just move on together, they have to recruit schoolchildren instead?"
"It's how the girls started."
"So what happens when the next girl dies, is Hogwarts now a school at all or is it a boot camp?"
Hermione groans. "Is this helping?! You may not like my decision but I've made it and I don't regret it. That is not changing anytime soon, no matter what."
Harry snaps. "Then how do you expect me to support you when you are doing something I am a hundred percent against?"
"I don't know Harry, like I've said before that is up to you to work out. Now please just try and be civil to Alex."
Harry shakes his head. "I'm sorry Hermione, but I can't do that, not even for you. I have never had a false gut feeling before, no matter what you say the 'BIA' are setting off tonnes of alarm bells. Someone has to be there so th-"
"So what? So you can tell me that you told me so?"
"No!" Harry exclaims. After a second though Harry's expression turns dark. "This is worse than I thought possible. Suddenly you don't trust me. Me! The person who never did you wrong and you relied on completely, and you choose a sleazy lesbian who would gladly allow you to try and kill yourself!"
Hermione looks appalled. "How dare you?!"
"How dare YOU?!"
A tense silence follows, consisting of a stare down of pure anger and disgust. Neither participant dares to speak, neither dares to blink. The only movement is the tightening of fists, shoulders raising up in rigidness and face expressions deepening further into unpleasantness.
Hermione does eventually break the silence. "Not even for me. No trust, no loyalty and no respect. If that is the case then there is only thing we can do."
Harry fully interprets the implied message. "When you put it like that I guess you're right."
Hermione coldly says. "Goodbye Harry."
"Goodbye Hermione."
...
Hermione wakes at the dead of night. For someone who has spent all day in a bed, Hermione sure feels exhausted. More emotionally than anything else. The day has been filled with tales of the good, the bad and the ugly.
She got to see a side of Dominic Van Barr that no one ever gets the chance to see. She got to connect with the girls more and fool around with her friends. And the girl she has been crushing on for weeks asked her out.
And yes it is official. Alexis herself came back twice to ask for verification that indeed they are dating. And Hermione tried to look happy about it, and she is happy about it, but the sore memory of losing Harry stood firmly as the dominant event of the day. Alexis was halfway to scalping the Boy-Who-Lived when she found out but purely from the hurt it showed on Hermione's face Alexis swallowed down her vengeful fury to console her.
What a day.
"Knock knock." Came a whisper from the door. Hermione's lack of concentration and clear thought meant that she assumes it is Alex wanting to see her again. It's always great to see her, but as much as Hermione enjoys the thought and action of kissing to her hearts content, it is late and Hermione is tired.
"Alex, not right now please. Can't you wait til the morning?"
"It was Ron last time, you are getting closer. Still would be great if you said my real name though."
Hermione opens her eyes to fully take in the dark silhouette at the door. Hermione undoubtedly knows this girl is leaner than Alex and her voice is more high pitch. Hermione eventually works out who it is. "Ashley, what brings you to me at this late time?"
"I just wanted a word. Unless you really do want to sleep, in which case I'll come back later."
"You're here now and I'm awake, please come in." Hermione assures.
Ashley proceeds to sit in the chair by Hermione's bed. Hermione curiously asks "What do you wish to talk about?"
"It's been a long day for you hasn't it?"
Hermione sourly chuckled. "You can say that again."
"You and Harry are no longer friends then?"
"No."
"You don't have to talk about it."
"Trust me the last person I want to talk about is Harry James Potter." Hermione scoffs.
Ashley hesitates to continue in order to defuse the tension. "You did well today."
"I'm a bloody mess and I finished third."
"It could've been a lot worse, and you know it. Besides if it wasn't for the creepo that sabotaged your tomb you would have come out of there unscathed and victorious." Ashley points out.
"I know. If I'm honest, I too am proud of myself, surprised even."
"Proud certainly, but surprising no." Ashley gives her a warm smile that is returned. "Princess Charming finally manned up then?"
Hermione smiles wide. "You knew?"
"Of course. We knew from the start, it was part of the reason that I...you know... went all douchy on you and Alex. It was sickeningly sweet to watch you both crave each other but stupidly beat around the bush." Ashley admits.
Hermione frowns slightly. "So why did Alexis say we were only friends, that day my initiation started?"
"Maybe because she is an idiot and didn't want to get too caught up on you cos of Mackenzie."
Hermione's face drops. Ashley has her turn to frown. "What's wrong?"
"I'm just being silly."
"Rubbish. Tell me."
"It will sound all horrible and insensitive."
Then the penny drops in Ashley's head. "Oh. You are worried about being in the shadow of Mackenzie."
Hermione nods. "I know it's terrible of me but I can't help it. I like Alex a lot, I've never had feelings like this before. She has. She has loved before, and still loves her. No matter how much I feel for her, she will never feel as much for me as she does for her."
"You don't know that, love takes time you know. You just need to wait it out and eventually you will probably exceed Mackenzie."
"But I don't want to, exceed Mackenzie that is. I never knew her and before I even have a chance with Alex I'm already being compared to her. I don't want to meet a benchmark. I don't want to compete. I just want Alex to look at me and say I am who she has always wanted, and not regret saying it or make exceptions. But that's impossible because the truth is if Mackenzie hadn't died I wouldn't be in the picture and Alex would have spent her life with her. The truth is Alex will always care more for her." Hermione cries.
Ashley pats her hand consolingly. "She never told you about the necklace did she?"
"What necklace?"
"Mackenzie's necklace. Alex sacrificed it."
Hermione is shocked. "Why?"
"To bury the hatchet, to symbolize that she had to move on. When they first met they found a necklace down by the lake. They used it as a symbol of their love that Mackenzie gave to Alex in her last moments with her..." Ashley sniffles and forces herself to plough onwards. "Alex swore to keep it as a reminder of her forever, to cement Kenz as her true love. What she didn't count on was meeting you. When Alex found out you liked her back to some extent, she decided in order to proceed she had to give up Kenz, to give up the necklace. Apparently she went back to the lake where they found it and returned it to whence it came. She gave up the necklace for you."
Hermione is speechless. The surge of happiness is heating up her core but the surprise of the revelation restricted the smile from appearing on her face. When she does manage to speak she replies. "Even so, necklace or no necklace, I am still second best. I'm still runner-up."
"Love is not about outshining predecessors, instead of looking for what you can't have look for the things you do. You have Alex. You have Alex. Not Mackenzie, you. No one can take that away from you, the events involving Harry proves that. Alex is not looking at Mackenzie when she is with you, she is looking at Hermione. Her protégée who she is currently dating. You have eight months more of this and you will share it with me, Jessie, your friends, the Master and Alex. Eight months, this has happened in one month, imagine eight more." Ashley encourages.
Hermione's smile grows wider throughout this speech. It turns into a grin and her eyes gloss over. Her doubts are still there but the longer she has Alex by her side the more they will fade into the background and eventually disappear.
Hermione catches Ashley by surprise when she lunges forward and hugs her tightly. "That sounds amazing." Thoughts of Harry were long gone.
When they pull apart Ashley moves to get up, Hermione stops her though. "Aren't you gonna tell me the real reason you wanted to speak to me?"
Ashley laughs. "You really do blow me away sometimes. You got me, I actually wanted to discuss something with you."
"What about?"
"Its strictly personal. I therefore insist that anything I tell you remains confidential. Even to Alex and Jessie. I would go to one of them to help me with this but...I've come to you instead."
Hermione feels privileged but also anxious at being given this close-friendship opportunity with perhaps the most guarded person she knew. "What you say stays between us, you have my word."
Ashley nods. "Remember my little sister, the one who goes to Hogwarts and doesn't remember me?"
Hermione feels the pang of sadness this question brings. "Yeah, I remember."
"Well, I've been keeping my eye on her since we came here. I sometimes watch her study from afar, talk at the Hufflepuff table at meals, I even see her in the sweet shop in Hogsmeade sometimes." Ashley stops and out shoots a sob. "I miss her."
Hermione transfigures a small bit of parchment from her homework stash into a handkerchief, she offers it to Ashley who thanks her. "I can imagine."
Ashley blows her nose and dries her eyes. "Well, anyway. I've been thinking about the Master's story and how well you have been coping being open to your friends about us. I know you've lost Harry, but that's down to a problem he has with us in general. My point is though, I'm sick of hiding. When I began as leader for the BIA I was one hundred percent on the side of keeping loved ones out of my...business. I was wrong, I was proven wrong, I suffered for it. I managed to cope for a while after the-the incident. I never once forgave myself and I truly believe that the day I lost my family was the beginning of the spiral of events that occurred after. The missions that followed that incident, something kept going wrong. Little things at first but they grew into things that almost jeopardised the mission. We were getting injured more, our plans were less effective...and eventually the ultimate blow. I haven't told Alex or Jess this, but I blame myself for that demise. More than that, I am fully responsible for it, I know so. I couldn't cope without my family, could not accept that I lost them. Without them my only cause to continue was the girls, and it's gonna sound selfish but I wanted more. My family provided me with more and the horrible truth is if I had just told them just the basics of the group and what we do, I would still have a family. I let it fester in my mind, subconsciously at first, and it affected the team. I am the reason that BIA is so vulnerable right now, all because I'm a control freak. What sort of leader am I? What sort of friend am I?"
Hermione grabs Ashley's left hand in both hers and firmly says. "The very best."
"You're wrong, but thank you." Ashley slips her hand out of Hermione's grasp. "I'm done with being a control freak, I'm done with secrecy and lies and I want my family back."
Hermione's eyes bug. "You want ME to help you with that, I don't even know who your parents are?"
"I know that. Don't forget they don't know me either."
"Why do you not just restore their memories?" Hermione asks.
"I don't know how much they have forgotten, the power in the memory less charm was too unstable for me to measure, hence why they lost more memories than I wanted them to. I didn't realise at the time but when I got back from the mission, that's when I found out what I did. It wasn't like I chose what memories I removed, I just did the charm without thinking about it. I need to know exactly what memories I removed in order to restore them. I'll work on that in time. What I want you to do for now is help me befriend my sister. My sister is the quickest and easiest way back in, and I wouldn't want to do this any other way. When my sister trusts me enough I can move onto my parents via her. Then when I'm officially close to them all, I restore their memories and get my family back. Then I will tell them everything-" Ashley explains.
"Woah, Ashley I'm not sure about this. This could go so wrong in so many ways." Hermione tells her.
Ashley is confused. "How? I befriend my sister,she let's me meet our parents, I become a family friend, I restore their memories. How can it go wrong?"
Hermione almost splutters her response but that would be an insensitive reaction to show in this current mood, so instead she calmly says. "You don't see something, anything in there that can obstruct you, or completely derail the idea completely?" Meeting only confused silence, Hermione continues. "Have you considered how the message of your idea can be misinterpreted?"
Ashley contemplates this. "The way I stated it makes it seem a bit cold how I can just meddle with emotions so willingly, but you know what I mean."
Hermione sighs. "Yes I know that your intentions are only good but there are so many things wrong with this idea. Have you considered your age? You are eighteen, almost nineteen, she is eleven or twelve. For that reason alone it will be difficult to befriend her, plus you will receive raised eyebrows by anyone old enough to understand the logistics of stranger danger. Have you considered the staff and how they might find problems with an out-of-Hogwarts guest befriending a first year student? It's just not right for it to happen. Have you considered time at all? How long does it take a first year to trust an eighteen year old stranger enough to invite them to meet their parents? It will take longer than the time you have, especially with the tournament going on and my initiation..." Hermione relays to her, Ashley looks like she is sucking on a lemon. Clearly hearing her idea get roasted like this, quite rightly, is not going down well no matter how truthful it is.
"...Your sister will need time to trust you, your parents even longer. And then when all the closeness is established, you are just going to sacrifice it all when you restore their memories. I can tell you now, It won't go down anywhere near the way you see it going down. You are expecting them to except that you once removed their memories, except that you lied to them about what you were and are still up to, except that you have lied to them all this time about who you are to them and expect them to go back to the way things were when you erased their memories in the first place. You will most likely lose them again, and this time it will be worse because they know of you and yet still don't want to know you."
Hermione gets so carried away with her lecture that she forgets to choose her words carefully. This caused Ashley to brew and stew the whole way through her explanation, and the exclamation at the end about losing her parents again struck a nerve inside Ashley. She draws her wand into her hand and raises herself to her feet. Her magical presence is baring its hostility and her gaze pierce's Hermione's frightened eyes with inferno fury. "You take that back! You take it back or you'll wish that you were never born!"
Hermione babbles. "I'm sorry Ashley. I didn't mean it like that. Please I do wanna help, please. I'm sorry."
Ashley sits down again but remains in the same tone of voice. "I appreciate the effort you are taking with trying to help me, but if you are just gonna list off faults in my plan I will take my business elsewhere. And believe me it will be the last time I ask you for a favour."
"Ok, I understand. I can maybe propose a slightly different angle to your idea, it will be the same idea at the core but we bypass any difficulties and setbacks." Hermione offers.
Ashley nods for her to continue.
"Firstly, I befriend your sister, it will be easier for me as I'm closer to her age and I'm a student. The fact I'm Hogwarts champion at least means she will at least recognise me and know some details about me. When I befriend her I will attempt to see if subconsciously she knows you exist."
Ashley frowns. "How does that work?"
"Were you close as sisters?"
Ashley vehemently replies. "She was very close to me, more than any other person including my parents."
"Then even though she may not remember you, some element of you inside her still exists. Maybe she has a connection to a toy you gave her once and she cannot explain why she likes it. Things like that."
"How does that help?"
"They will be reassurances. I plan to tell her that she has an older sister who she cannot remember and these subconscious anomalies will ensure that she will be likelier to believe me." Hermione explains.
"You will tell her. Just like that."
"Not quite. I also want to see how she reacts when she sees you, if she can remember you subconsciously it means it is possible that she dreams of you. Or maybe she will notice your resemblance. Either way I want to see her reaction upon seeing you. Then if we have enough evidence that she may believe us, we will tell her you're sisters. Then if she agrees to it, we will restore her memories."
Ashley nods. "I like it, I was a major part of her life and so if the memory of me is erased than a lot of things will be confusing in her life. She may remember them, which will help her believe she will remember me."
"Exactly."
"So when I get my sister back, what then?"
"You tell her you are sorry. If she remembers you she will remember her birthday and what you did. Apologize to her and tell her the truth."
Instead of anger this time, Ashley nods in agreement.
"What about my parents?"
"Your sister will write to them and ask them to meet you both on the next Hogsmeade trip. Like your sister, they should have subconscious mind anomalies that may help them be convinced that you are their daughter too. With any luck they will agree to let you return their memories and you go through the same apology and explanation procedure that you went through with your sister." Hermione pats Ashley's arm gently. "If everything goes well, you will have a family again."
Ashley manages a smile. "It's a great plan. I admit, way better than mine."
"It was your plan, I just ironed out the wrinkles." Hermione replies. "I have only one question, do we tell Alex and Jessie or not?"
"Purely because I went to you other than them, I think not."
"Why did you go to me? I still don't get why they can't have helped you?"
"Because, like you didn't, I don't think they would've liked my original plan. I knew that you would find a way to make it work, they would just discard my idea considering how much attention the BIA will receive off my actions. Like you said, what eleven year old has an eighteen year old best friend."
"We changed the idea, now do you think we should tell them?"
Ashley shrugs. "I suppose. But we both work together on this plan and we do it alone. Alex and Jess will just be overcomplicating things and we have all the bases covered anyway."
"Ok. I will warn you though Alexis won't take too kindly with cutting our Hogsmeade date short to meet your parents." Hermione tells her.
"She will get over it. Besides as long as she gets a Butterbeer out of it and a snuggle she doesn't care." Ashley responds. "Hint hint by the way."
"Hint received loud and clear. When do we start on this plan?"
Ashley checks her watch and stands up to leave. "Today. Good morning Hermione."
She is gone before Hermione can fumble a response. Yep, what a day.
...
An; there has been an early issue in this story that I hadnt noticed until I reread everything and it has really bugged me, and probably you too if you've noticed. The timeline of the BIA does not line up with the canon Harry Potter timeline. I state that Alex was fifteen when she competed in the Tri-wizard tournament, same age as Hermione BUT i also stated that Alex is seventeen turning eighteen in this story. Alex by right should be in Seventh year, three years ahead of Hermione and three years since she competed in the tournament. So that means Hermione would've been in first year when Alex competed in her Tri-wizard tournament. So yeah, I fucked up. And the only thing I can do to resolve this without destroying the entire story into an unmendable mess is to raise the age of the BIA by a year. So all three BIA members are eighteen turning nineteen. If you are annoyed at me I don't blame you, no one is more annoyed at me than myself. I really hope you continue reading this and can look over that mistake as I have a soft spot with this story and really want people to read it.
Countdown to Fantastic Beasts on Saturday 19th November...9 days, 16 hours, 3 minutes and counting from this full stop. .wait.
Tbc...The Smile In The Dark
