Chapter eleven

Harry apparates Hermione and Ron into his mother's back garden, then leads them into the house where Cassie launches herself at Harry, he swings her around before kissing her head.

'Sis, these are my two best friends in the whole world, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.'

'Hi,' she smiles.

'Hello, you do have Harry's hair,' Hermione smiles.

'At least you didn't get his face,' Ron smirks making Hermione slap him, but Harry and Cassie laugh.

'I think my brother is cute. Come on, mum's anxious to meet you,' Cassie takes Harry's hand and pulls him inside, 'Mum, this is Hermione and Ron,' she said quickly before Harry could.

'Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley,' Harry smiles.

'It's nice to meet you Mrs. Collins,' Hermione and Ron shakes her hand.

'Yeah, it's good to meet you,' Ron nods.

'It's so nice to meet my sons friends, come sit down and we'll have a cup of tea,' she smiles and makes them tea, but watches her son and his friends and she could tell straight away they were close, different but very close, 'Harry explained about why you are here Hermione, that must have been difficult?'

'It was, but I knew they were safer here than over there.'

'It was the smartest thing to do, Voldemort would have done anything to find Harry. My family all went into hiding, they stayed with my aunt and her place was protected,' Ron said.

'I'm sorry about your brother Ron, Harry told me about him.'

'Fred, it's been hardest on George and mum, being twins George is sort of feeling like part of him is gone, they used to speak for each other or one after another when they were talking to someone.'

'They used to crack me up doing that, I'd be turning my head from George to Fred and back again, I'd get a neck ache,' Harry gave Ron a small kindly smile.

'So have you found your parents?' Rose asked.

'Our minister spoke with the ministry from here, they found them and are now restoring their memories, it will take a couple of days mainly because I wasn't experienced in that type of memory removal. So I have to wait before I can see them, I am anxious though, mainly about how they will feel.'

'At first they might be a little upset, but once they hear everything, I'm sure they will be fine. Harry has been explaining about many things from over the last few years, even bought some books that I could read. There is a lot written about you three and as he was after Harry, you two were in more danger than others.'

'Yes, we know, but we wanted to be there for Harry, for anything.' Hermione smiled at her friend

'I tried to do everything alone, they wouldn't let me. They call me stubborn when these two are worse than I am.'

'No, we just knew you needed us. As my dad said, the three of us bring different abilities to our group, we complement each other.' Ron said.

'What abilities?' Cassie asked.

'Hermione is the one with the brains, she's the smartest witch around. I'm really good at strategy, plans, things like that and Harry is the powerful one. Hermione will explain a spell to Harry, he gets it, then teaches us, just like he did when he taught the DA.'

'Harry explained about the DA not that he taught,' Rose's eyebrows raised as she stared at Harry.

Harry shrugs so Hermione answers, 'I came up with the idea of Harry teaching us as our defence teacher wouldn't teach us anything. Ron and I talked Harry into it, then others that we knew would keep it quiet wanted to learn from Harry. So there was twenty five in the group, from twelve up to seventeen.'

'And how old were you at the time?'

'Fifteen,' Harry shrugged again.

'Harry's a good teacher, one of our friends, Neville, he was hopeless, couldn't even disarm, but after a few lessons with Harry, he caught up to all of us and ended up faster at learning spells before the others.'

'His main reason for learning apart from trying to stay alive was Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped Azkaban and she tortured Neville's parents until their minds were gone. They live out their days in St Mungo's, they were aurors and members of the order of the phoenix, you actually knew them,' Harry stared at his mother, 'Frank and Alice Longbottom. Neville was a baby when it happened, his grandmother raised him.'

'That's so sad, does he see his parents?' Rose asked.

'When he can he visits them, but they don't even know who he is. It's hard on Neville, but he doesn't show it. We spoke once after a DA meeting, I put a picture up of the original order of the phoenix, Neville was staring at his parents. He said he wanted to make them proud, I was staring at you and my father, I said we'll make them all proud and I think we did.'

'Alright, after hearing so many things, then to hear about your friend, I'll do it.'

Harry stared at his mother, 'Do it, you mean have your memory fixed?'

'Yes, you are my son but I don't feel like you are because I don't see you as my son. If people like you're friend Neville has to see his parents like that and can't have them in his life, that would be so hard, it's the same for you. I'm here but as far as my memory is concerned, I don't know you as my son even though I know you are.'

'It is hard knowing you're my mother but you don't know it or feel it. Yeah we're friendly now, but not like we should be.'

'It will still be strange though, once my memory is repaired, I will remember a baby, but at least I can see how you are now. Do you know if this will affect my memories of this life?'

'It won't, Dumbledore explained. I brought the memories my father removed from you so after your memory is fixed they will replace them but you will retain memories from both lives. I want you to be sure and do it because you want to, not for me.'

'You never want anything for yourself Harry, you've always been like that,' Hermione squeezed his hand.

'I'm so used to not getting anything and having things already decided about my life it's just second nature not to expect anything.'

'I want to do this for you and for me. We are getting to know each other, but I saw the memories of my wedding day to your father but it's like watching someone else. I saw myself giving birth to you and again it was like watching another red headed woman. I want to do this, I want to remember those feelings I had for my son.'

Hermione, Ron and Cassie watched Harry and his mother stare into identical eyes as they held hands. The love was already there, Lily just needed to remember the love she felt for her son, not just the love she feels for him now because it's different, but soon it will be real.