Flower Memories

Surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, Hermione Weasley nee Granger is the picture of calm, cool and collected as she sits in front of her departed husband's casket. Ronald Billus Weasley lies in state in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic as befitting his status as former Auror and decorated war hero. Hermione gives the proper responses to those who come to pay their respect, but it is all white noise to her.

She feels guilty, so very guilty, for not feeling the level of sadness that a recent widow should feel. Oh, she feels sadness for her children and grandchildren and the various nieces and nephews that have expanded the Weasley brood over the many years. Their father, grandfather and uncle was no longer among them and Hermione sympathizes with their lost. However, Hermione does not feel the lost keenly. When she was told that Ron had died, she felt the same level of sadness when she had learned Neville had died. To explain it simply, she mourned the death of a close friend.

They loved each other on some level. The two drifted together, both needing someone to hold on to during the aftermath of the war. Three years passed before Ron proposed and Hermione accepted his proposal. It was many years later when they admitted to each other that they only did what people, mostly his family, expected from them.

No longer wanting to be among those who are mourning her late husband, Hermione leaves.

~~**~~**~~ Page Break ~~**~~**~~

After the war, Hermione restored her parents' memories but they decided to stay in Australia. The Grangers told their daughter they were planning to move there once Hermione had completed her education at Hogwarts. Comfortably established they felt there was no need for them to come back but they did sign over the deed to their home in England to Hermione. It is here she finds herself, sitting in the solarium, surrounded by flowers. Some of them were non-magical but most of them were magical, everlasting blooms.

Hermione had start receiving the various flowers starting her second year at Hogwarts. The first two months she received oleanders which were soon followed by begonias. It wasn't until Hermione received some purple hyacinths when Lavender Brown told her someone was trying to tell her something by the flowers they sent her.

"Who's asking for your forgiveness, Hermione," Lavender Brown had asked.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because of the bouquet of purple hyacinths you're holding. Naming daughters after flowers is somewhat of a tradition in my family and my mom has a book that tells you what the different type of flowers means. Purple hyacinths mean 'I am sorry, please forgive me.' "

"I didn't know that. I just thought they looked pretty."

"You mean I know something that you don't know?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to savor this moment because I don't know when I will have the opportunity to say this. I know something you don't know," Lavender said, singing the last sentence.

"I am glad that you find this funny, Lavender."

The blonde girl had only smiled before suggesting a couple of books on the language of flowers.

~~**~~**~~ Page Break ~~**~~**~~

The memory of that conversation with Lavender so many years ago makes Hermione smile. The two of them were not really close at first and they were, once upon a time, rivals for Ron's affections. Yet despite their differences, Lavender had proven herself a good friend and Hermione was as heartbroken as Pravati when she learned that Lavender did not survive the Battle of Hogwarts. It was Lavender who figured out that Hermione had a crush on the sender of the flowers she received their fourth year.

Lavender had found Hermione in the library. It was three days later after the Yule Ball and Hermione was still wounded over Ron's comments. The Gryffindor girls had closed ranks and they were all giving Ron the silent treatment. It had been decided by Fay and Pravati that Lavender should attempt to get Hermione out of the library and back to their dorm room for a gossip session.

"You've always said he has the emotional range of a teaspoon, Hermione. So why did you let what Ron say bother you?"

"I know I'm not pretty. My hair is out of control, until recently, I had those rather large front teeth and over-all, I'm rather . . . plain. Viktor didn't see all of that. He just saw me. Do you know the reason why he asked me to the Yule Ball?"

"I was wondering but I didn't want to pry."

"Viktor asked me because he said because I wasn't a fan girl, because I didn't go out my way trying to attract his attention. He admired my focus on my studies."

"For some reason, I'm sensing you're disappointed by his reasoning."

Hermione started to deny Lavender's observation, but didn't. Instead of explaining why she was disappointed by Viktor's reason why he asked her out, Hermione instead says -

"He sent me a bouquet of stock flowers," Hermione says as Lavender gave the Fat Lady the password.

"Viktor?"

"Not Viktor, the same person who sent the other flowers."

"Stock flowers? Don't they mean . . ."

" 'You'll always be beautiful to me.' I've never had anyone call me beautiful before," Hermione says, blushing lightly.

"Who called you beautiful," Harry asked.

"Who has been sending you flowers," Ron demanded.

"A gentleman," Lavender said, replying to both questions.

"So obviously not you," Hermione added, looking in Ron's direction before the two girls headed to their dorm room. The two giggled at Ron's expression and as Lavender opened the door she says –

"I think you have a crush on your secret admirer."

"Who has a crush," Fay asked.

"Hermione has a secret admirer," Pravati says in a wondering tone.

The other girls barely let Hermione and Lavender get into the room proper before the interrogation started.

~~**~~**~~ Page Break ~~**~~**~~

Hermione is brought out of her memories by the voice of her daughter, Rose.

"Mum, how are you?"

"I'm fine. I just needed to get away. The crowds were starting to get to me."

"I kinda figured I would find you here. Dad told me that you would come here for solitude and peace. I asked him why the solarium was here and not at home and he said that I would have to ask you."

A bittersweet smile crosses Hermione's face. She wasn't in love with Ron and he wasn't in love with her, his heart always belonging to a blonde girl with an easy smile and sparkling blue-violet eyes. However, they respected each other's secrets until the very end.

"The solarium is here because all of the magical flowers were gifts to me throughout the years and they were not from your father."

"Mum! Did you . . . ."

"No, sweetheart, I didn't. I loved your father and he loved me, but we were not in love with each other. His love died during the Battle of Hogwarts. I was and I still am in love with the sender of these flowers, although I do not know exactly who he is."

"That's so sad yet still, so romantic, Mum. It's amazing that all of these flowers are still in bloom after all of these years."

"They're everlasting flowers. As long as the sender of these flowers still hold me in high regard and have love for me, they will continue to bloom, only ceasing to do so upon my death."

A comfortable silence falls between mother and daughter and Rose picks up what seems to be a bridal bouquet.

"What's the story behind this one, Mum?"

"Well, this one arrived on my wedding day and . . ."