Chapter 14: Forgotten Memories

15th December 2002

"What?" Hermione looked into Ron's eyes – she felt like screamed at what she saw; nothing. No love or affection or want. His eyes were blank, just like his face.

Ron laughed nervously.

"I'm sorry. You must have just slipped my mind."

"Slipped your mind? Ron it's me, Hermione. We've know each other since we were eleven years old!"

"Are you sure you have the right person? I can't seem to remember you…"

"I was there when we fought Voldemort! You nearly died trying to save me from a Death Eater!"

"Very funny, but I don't appreciate being joked around about You-Know-Who, especially after I have just come out of an operation!"

"I'm not kidding Ron! This isn't a joke!"

"Just leave will you. I remember the fight against Voldemort quite clearly, so I think I'd remember you if you were there! Now will you please leave?"

"But Ron…!"

"C'mon Hermione, maybe we should leave Ron to rest." Ginny wheeled Hermione out of the room.

"Shesh… I think that one's in the wrong ward ey Harry?" Ron laughed at his own little joke, but to Harry nothing could be more UN-funny.

"Ginny! What's wrong with Ron? Why does he not remember me?" Ginny helped Hermione back into her hospital bed.

"Well after he had his operation the healer told us there may be some memory loss as resulting from the lack of oxygen a certain sector of his brain had been getting."

"But it's only temporary, right? I mean he will get his memory back wont he?" Tears rolled down Hermione's cheeks.

"I don't know Hermione, I don't know." Ginny lent over the bed and hugged Hermione.

"It's ok Hermione. The healer said that he could get his memory back at any time."

"But what if he doesn't Ginny? Oh Merlin! What if he never remembers who I am?!" Hermione pulled away from Ginny.

"What if he never remembers, Ginny?"

Ginny had no idea what to tell Hermione. What do you tell someone when the one they love doesn't have a clue who they are?

"I – I don't know Hermione – I really don't know." Hermione lay down and rolled over so her back faced the door – and Ginny.

"Hermione don't be like that." Ginny reached out and touched Hermione's shoulder.

"Don't be like what Ginny?" Hermione sat up. "Don't you dare say mad because I have all the reason to be mad! Don't say upset because again in this situation the word upset is a major under-statement. Don't say hurt because I am NOT hurt. I am way more than hurt! I am in agony! You don't know how much pain it cost my body just to go and see Ron. But hey, what's that they say? Oh, I remember; LOVE HURTS! But I guess in my case I'M THE ONLY ONE HURTING!!" Hermione dropped back down into her bed and pulled the covers up to her neck.

"Now if you don't mind Ginny, I am tired and would like to get some sleep."

Ginny mopped back into Ron's hospital room silently.

"Hey sis, take crazy lady back to her room?"

"SHUT UP RON! JUST SHUT UP!" Ginny left the room and slammed the door behind her.

"What'd I do?" Ron asked shrugging. "I just tried to make a joke."

Harry sighed and stood up - he began to pace back and forwards at the foot of Ron's bed.

"Harry, what's with the circle walking?"

"RON!" Harry sighed and rubbed his temples. "Ron, are you saying you don't remember that girl at all?"

"No. I don't have a clue who she is." Ron was again confused.

"Think Ron. Think about the fight, and Hogwarts. Do you remember the Yule ball?"

"Of course I remember. You and I spent half the night sitting down doing nothing."

"Good, that's good Ron. Now who did we go with?"

"Parvati and Padma, you know that Harry."

"Ron that's great. You're doing well, now do you remember who went with Victor Krum?"

Ron tried to remember but all he remembered was sitting with Harry and then being up in the common room. There did seem to be a bit of a blank spot in his memory. Ron tried to remember but still couldn't. If he had of tried to remember the ball any other time the blank wouldn't have fazed him.

"Ron?"

"Who went with Krum…? I can't remember."

"Ok Ron. What about… what about when we went to the Ministry of magic in our fifth year. Who was with us?"

"You, Neville, Luna and I."

Harry sighed I frustration. How could Ron have only forgotten Hermione?

"What about in our first year? Who did we save from the mountain troll in the girl's bathroom?"

Ron, again, strained to remember.

"We didn't save anyone, Harry. We went to see if we could distract the troll so that the others could get to their common rooms."

"NO WE DIDN'T RON! WHY DON'T YOU REMEMBER?!" Harry shouted in frustration.

"I do remember! You're just going insane! This HERMIONE person was never THERE!"

"Look Ron, I'm sorry. I have to go and see Anika."

Harry went to leave the room but Ron spoke.

"Harry? I hope you don't get mad at me for asking but… who's Anika?"

"You don't remember Anika?"

"Um… No?"

"Ok. Well I don't really have time to explain it now but I'll let you know later."

Harry wondered out into the corridor. Ron didn't remember Hermione or Anika. Anika is someone he only met a while ago but… Hermione he had known for a good ten years… What was going on?

Work the next day was hell. Harry couldn't concentrate on the set task. He's mind kept wondering away from him and nothing was getting done.

All of a sudden it hit him… harder than the blast from a blast ended skrewt.

He had cracked it. There was obviously TWO reasons as to why the Death Eaters were after Anika.

One; because they were still after her because of her mothers betrayal – although this was very unlikely as Harry doubted they would be still be after Anika's mother after four years and the downfall of Voldemort.

Or there was option number two; That the death eaters knew. Knew that Anika would become pregnant and there fore try and get rid of her before she had the chance.

They probably didn't want to run the risk of having another Potter in this world. After all, the first one they had to deal with did eradicate there leader - but how did they know?

Harry sat at his desk wondering how they knew hat Anika would get pregnant. The only thing he could think of is that somehow, the Death Eaters had a Psychic willing to help them…

20th December 2002

It took a few weeks for the healers to dismiss Hermione from hospital - although she did have to take about half a dozen potions a day. For the first two days all she did was sleep all day on her fold out bed in Ginny's room. Ginny didn't think it was because she was sleepy though. Harry and Ginny had both tried to revive Ron's memory but failed every time. He seemed to have little blanks where ever Hermione was concerned. That or she was just not there and it was only Harry and Ron in the particular memory. The healers at Saint Mungos said this was uncommon, but not unheard of.

Hermione had even gone and seen Ron. He was asleep when she went in so she just stood over his bed and watched him. Ron got quite a shock when he awoke.

"What the heck are you doing here? You can't just watch people while there sleeping! Next thing I know you'll follow me home! Get out you crazy person!" Hermione didn't visit him again.

Ron was due to come home the next day and Hermione was even sadder than ever. It was defiantly not going to he a happy Christmas.

Why does he not remember me? I've known him forever!

Hermione rolled over in her bed and fell asleep.

21st December 2002

"Ron! How are you?"

"Hey, little brother!"

"We know you'd get though it!" Ron was surrounded by everyone when he came home the next day… Well, almost everyone.

"What's she doing here?" Ron shouted pointing to the stairs in which Hermione was making her way down.

"Um… I was hungry?" Hermione walked further down the stairs.

"Don't come any closer – George send a letter to Saint Mungo's – It's... ok… we'll… get... you… back… where… you… belong!" Ron talked very slowly and nudged George in the ribs, cocking his head towards the family owl sleeping quietly on top of a cupboard.

"Ron you git! I'm not a fricken RETARD!"

"Mum! Do something! She's in our house! I've seen her at Saint Mungo's. She must have escaped the mental ward!"

"Ronald, dear. This is Hermione. She will be staying here for a while. She's a friend of Harry's."

"Alright fine! But keep her away from me! She's crazy!"

"AAAAH! JUST FORGET IT!" Hermione stormed up the stairs.

"I told you she was crazy, Mum. I wouldn't trust her!"

A few minutes passes and soon a 'clink, clunk, clunk' was heard and Hermione was at the bottom of the stairs with her bloated trunk.

"I'm sorry! I can't handle this anymore! Thank you for your hospitality Mrs. Weasley – you too Mr. Weasley – but I think it's time I left."

"Hermione, you've just come out of the hospital, you can't go out there on your own!" Hermione dropped her trunk and made her way to Ginny. She grabbed hold of Ginny's hands and looked her in the eye.

"Thank you Ginny, you have been the best friend I could ever ask for! Thank you for everything! I'll contact you later, but for now I need to get away…" Hermione pulled Ginny into a hug. She then turned to Harry.

"The same applies to you Harry. I'll miss you."

Hermione then turned to Ron. He looked at her strangely and took a step back. Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but she decided not to. A silent tear slid down her cheek. She turned around, grabbed her trunk, and in a small 'crack' she was gone.