Chapter 14: Adjusting to the News
Hermione had not managed to sleep very much that night. Then she had to slog through a day of work, which was not easy as she found it very difficult to focus on the legal files in front of her. By lunch she was already wondering how she would possibly make it through the day. But then she received a text from Ron, saying "I am sure it's not the easiest day at work. Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you. I'll have the kids at my place after school. I got something for you today. We'll plop the kids in front of the tele, order Chinese take away and regroup tonight. Hang in there." While she initially wondered what he might have picked up, she gave up trying to guess, realizing she didn't even know what she didn't know.
She finally left her office at a little bit early, headed home to change into yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt and headed to Ron and Hugo's house.
"Mum!" Rose called as she walked through the front door.
"Hi darling, how was your day?"
"It was pretty good. Mrs. Ringrose was sick today so we had a substitute teacher for science. And the substitute was really funny. She made up all these songs about the different kinds of rocks – like igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Here – I taught Hugo the songs too. Ready, Hugo?"
After enjoying the spontaneous concert of educational geology songs, Hermione began to feel the stress of the past 24 hours retreating from her shoulders. Soon the Chinese food was ordered and the kids went off to practice more science songs. She sided up to Ron standing by the counter and relaxed into his arms as he hugged her.
"Hi," he said softly.
"Hi, yourself," she said.
"How are you holding up?"
"Better than last night, I would say. But, definitely not the most focused day of legal work I have had."
"No, I would imagine not," Ron laughed. "Here," he said breaking the embrace and reaching for a shopping bag. "I know you well enough to know you handle stress by reading. So, I stopped by a store called Flourish and Blotts today and picked you up a bit of a magical starter series if you will. It isn't everything, but hopefully enough to get you at least slightly oriented."
"Ron! That's brilliant. There are magical bookshops?"
"Of course. Libraries too. I am sure you will soon be frequenting them. Here, let me show you what I picked out. I got one on some basic history of magic in England – goes back a long way, but it stops around 1950 – not exactly recent history. And I picked up one on the history of Hogwarts – that's the school in Scotland. Then there is this one, I think it is for muggle or non-magical parents when they find out their child is a witch or wizard so it will help explain our unique terminology for things that I might not think to explain. Then there is one on charms, one on transfiguration, a potions text, a book on basic household charms, this one on magical creatures, and then the only one of these that I have actually read from cover to cover, a history of quidditch, which is, in my humble opinion, the most amazing sport ever invented. I played in school. Ginny played professionally for a while, but retired before she had kids. Then, I also put in a copy of the Daily Prophet, which is the main magical newspaper. You have to take it all with a grain of salt, as a lot of what they print is complete rubbish. But, I thought you might enjoy it anyway. You have to go to the wand shop yourself, so that isn't anything I could get for you. So, instead I ran by the candy store and got you some licorice wands instead."
Hermione's jaw gaped at the stack of gifts in front of her. He clearly understood how her brain worked. She began to flip through the pages, and was immediately startled by the moving images.
"Oh, right – um – the pictures move."
"I see that. Very cool."
"I really think that as soon as you are ready, I should take you to get a wand. You can't practice anything in the books without one."
"Could I just borrow yours?"
"Well you could, but I had a borrowed wand in school for a while, and trust me, it isn't a good idea. Wands pick their masters. Each one is different, and they respond to your magic in a unique way. So, my wand won't work the same for you as it does for me. Here – hold this," he said handing her his wand.
"Do you feel anything?"
"Just the wood in my hand I guess."
"See, when you have the right wand, you will know. Your magic will let you know. It will sort of let the magic flow through you and the wand, and your wand becomes an extension of your body."
"Huh," she said pondering all of this. "Where does one get a wand?"
"The best place is Ollivanders in Diagon Alley. You will love Diagon Alley. It is all magical shops, restaurants and well, it's sort of the cultural heart of magical London. That's where my brother's shop is, and where I technically still have my flat I guess."
"Do you think we should go just the two of us or should I tell Rose, and we all go together? Is it fun for kids?"
"Well yes, kids love Diagon Alley. But I can't tell you when to tell Rose. What's your gut telling you to do?"
"To tell her. My brain is fighting back, because I can't answer any of her questions, but I don't like not telling her something this big. But I feel like as soon as I tell her, then in some way I lose her. She is going to start thinking about going to boarding school, which I am totally not ready to even think about let alone prepare for yet. So, I don't know."
"Have you thought about how you will tell her?"
"Well, yes. I am thinking I would like you and Hugo to be there as well. I mean, you two can answer questions I haven't even thought to ask yet."
"I'd be honored to be there when you tell her. But only if you are sure. I mean, it is so personal, I won't be offended if you want to talk to her alone."
"Well, I would really like you to be there. But I don't think I am ready to do this tonight."
"There is no rush. Why don't you take the books home and start reading some after Rose goes to sleep tonight. Then if you are up for it, you can tell her tomorrow evening. And we could all go to Diagon Alley on Saturday if you want. But if you get overwhelmed by what you read – then don't worry. Call me, we'll chat and put off telling her until you are ready."
She nodded, considering his suggestion. "That could work. What book should I read first?"
"Well, I have only read one of those, and it is about a sport where everyone is on brooms. So, I loved that book, but it's probably not the one to start with. Maybe start with the one written by muggle parents who have just found out their child is magical. It might be a good basic overview of everything."
"Alright. Seems like as good as any other place to start. Can I ask you something? Well, two things actually."
"Of course."
"What is your favorite thing about being a wizard? And what is the worst thing about being a wizard?"
"Well, the worst thing was having to hide a lot of myself from you or intentionally mislead you. I've never spent much time in the muggle world, so that was my first experience of actually becoming close with someone who didn't know I was a wizard, and – well, I didn't like that part. Felt a bit dishonest, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. And my favorite thing? That's a harder one. I guess because I have never known anything different than this. Sounds silly, but it's probably just that the people I love are magical. And, well, you can feel your magic, right? I mean it's sort of like a heartbeat how it flows through you when everything works right. It makes so many things possible. That seems like a soppy answer, but it's true. Well, and I do like quidditch a lot. Or any excuse to be on a broom for a bit. You know –that's where I took Hugo the day of the funeral."
"Where?"
"He had never been flying before. We left the church and apparated – like magically jotting over to somewhere - to my parent's house. There I bundled him up and put him on my broom, covered us in a warming charm and we just flew. After my brother died and the grief was unbearable, I found that being on a broom was one of the only places I could breathe easily. Something about being up there in the wind just helped me, and I hoped it would help Hugo too. We flew out over Dartmoor, and then he wanted to go to the seaside for a while, so we did. Of course, he was freezing by the time we got back to my parents' house. But, mum had hot milk and biscuits for him. His parents never loved flying like I do. But, I think he just might."
"Do you think I will?"
"I don't know. We will just have to find that out by trying it I suppose."
As he said that, the doorbell rang and the Chinese food was there. Hermione packed up her new books, eagerly looking forward to devouring them as soon as she put Rose to bed.
She was tired the next morning, as she had read the first book cover to cover and then spent a few hours skimming the others. But, she seemed more settled with everything, and her day at work wasn't nearly as difficult as the day before. She smiled at Ron's text at lunch asking if they were still on for the evening. Her text back said, "Definitely. Feeling increasingly calmer about it. And looking forward to tomorrow too."
Ron said they shouldn't worry about cooking for dinner as he would heat up one the many casseroles his mum had made. Hermione threw together a quick salad, and soon the four were sitting at the table in her kitchen enjoying Friday night dinner. Ron had promised he would simply follow her lead and be there to answer questions, but that this was her news to tell.
After Hugo had retold his tale of thinking he'd forgotten his homework but later realizing it had simply been stuck in the bottom of his knapsack and was there all along, Hermione seized the lull in conversation to share her news.
"Do you know what? I have learned some really interesting information this week that I think you two will want to hear. Shall I share it?"
Rose nodded eagerly, while Hugo asked, "Wait, does Ron already know or will he not think it's interesting?"
"Ron knows," Hermione said.
"Ok. What is it?" asked Hugo.
"Well, do you remember the other night when my mum came and stayed with you two? I asked Ron to come over here because an old teacher from Ron's school – the same school as your mummy and daddy went to, Hugo, had stopped by for a visit."
Hugo shot Ron a very confused look. Ron simply said, "It's ok buddy. I promise. Let her finish alright?"
Hermione continued. "Well, the woman, her name was Professor McGonagall. She said that she had learned about a mistake that had been made when I was a little girl. And due to that mistake, I never got invited to go to the same school as Hugo's mummy and daddy and Ron."
At this point Hugo's jaw was completely agape, and Rose looked from face to face realizing that she was the only one who didn't understand what was being said.
"I don't understand, Mum. Why would you have to have a special invitation to go to that school? Why couldn't you have just gone with Dennis and Collin?"
"Well, Rose. That is the really interesting piece that I didn't know about. As it turns out, Hogwarts - that's the school – is a special school for children who can do magic. And, apparently I was born with the special ability to do magic and just never really knew or understood it. And, Professor McGonagall said that you were as well, Rose. We are both witches."
Rose looked simply flabbergasted at her mum.
Hugo jumped up and yelled, "THAT IS SO AWESOME!" and started bouncing around the room. "We will go to Hogwarts together! We can all be magical together! It isn't a secret anymore!"
This snapped Rose out of her fog, "Wait – what? You are a witch?"
"Don't be silly, Rose. Boys can't be witches. Ron and I are wizards, like Daddy and my Uncle Collin. Mummy was a witch too. But I didn't know you and Hermione were witches."
Rose looked back at her mum. "You're serious? I mean – this is incredible, but I will feel like such an idiot if you are putting one over on me."
"I wouldn't do that to you, love. I had to take a few days to get used to the idea and learn more about it, which Ron has helped me with. But, it's true. We are both witches, and the exciting thing is that we will both get to learn magic and learn all about the magical world that's been hidden right under our noses this whole time."
"Like in the stories I love."
"Except this time, it isn't make believe."
"Really, Ron is all this true?"
"Yup. All absolutely true. I am sorry Hugo and I couldn't say anything before. Magical people are not allowed to tell non magical people about it at all."
"What about Grandmum and Grandad?"
"I'll tell them this weekend. Parents and siblings can know. But, I wanted to tell you first since, well – since it's your news as well."
"So the stories are all real?" Rose asked Ron.
"Well, the stories you've read are mostly how non magic people – we call them muggles – imagine the magical world to be. They don't get it quite right. But, some parts are true – like unicorns and dragons and flying broomsticks and what not."
"NO WAY? UNICORNS ARE REAL?"
"Yes," he said laughing. "They are real."
"But they're really rare, aren't they Ron? Daddy said most people never seen one in their whole life."
"Well, yes, they are really rare. But, there are some here in England."
"Have you ever seen one?" asked Rose.
"Um, yes. A couple of times," said Ron.
"Really?" yelped Rose and Hermione at the exact same time, causing all four to break into peals of laughter.
"Wait a minute," Rose said regaining her composure. "So those brooms on the placemats – they weren't for cleaning were they?"
"No," laughed Hugo. "Ron loves to fly, and he took me flying and I loved it too. And he's rubbish at cleaning."
"Can we fly those broomsticks?" Rose asked pointing to the broom cupboard.
"No," explained Ron. "You have to have a special flying broomstick. They make different models, just like there are different types of cars. Some are for speed, some are for maneuvering, some are for heavy lifting, that sort of thing."
"Can you do magic right now?" Rose asked Hugo.
"Nope," said Hugo sadly. "You aren't allowed to do it until you learn it at school. And I don't have a wand. But Ron can. He's really good at magic, aren't you, Ron?"
Ron smiled and said, "Well, I can safely say that of everyone in the room right now I am definitely the most experienced at magic."
"Can you do something now?" asked Rose.
"Sure. But, magic isn't just for doing tricks. It helps get different things done. So, I can make the dishes get cleaned like this," and he flicked his wand at the pile of dishes next to the sink, which promptly began getting soaped up.
"Whoa! That's so COOL!" shrieked Rose. "What else?"
"Well, you can transfigure things to go from being one thing to another. So, for example, I can turn the dishtowel on the counter into a stuffed animal like this," and promptly flicked his wand to create a stuffed dog.
"Mum can you do anything?"
"No. Not yet. I haven't learned how, and I don't have a wand."
"You should get a wand, Hermione," said Hugo. "But how will you learn how to do magic if you didn't go to Hogwarts when you were little?"
"Because of the mistake of me not getting invited when I was young, Professor McGonagall said I can learn now. Ron will help me, and she will help me, and I will read a lot of books. And, I may go up and meet with some of the teachers at the school for some extra help. I am not quite sure on all the details yet. And as for a wand, I plan to get one very soon. Tomorrow, actually. And I am hoping we can all go together, would you like that?"
"To all go together to Diagon Alley!?" said Hugo.
"What's Diagon Alley?" asked Rose.
"It's this awesome magical road with all of these shops and cool places. I have only been a few times but it is one of the most coolest places anywhere in the whole world. You are going to love it, Rose! Oooh – Ron – can we take them to your brother's shop when we go?"
"That would be fun, Hugo. My brother owns a magical joke shop, Rose. I actually used to live just upstairs from it. There are all sorts of crazy things in that store. Take my advice, don't eat anything my brother offers you. I learned the hard way that if you take a sweet or a cake from him you will quickly find yourself turned into a canary or a throwing up uncontrollably. Trust me on that one. But it's pretty funny when it isn't happening to you."
"And we are going to go tomorrow? Will I get to get a wand too?"
"Not this trip, Rose," said Hermione, looking at Ron.
"Every witch or wizard can only get their wand once they have turned eleven so they can get it before they go to Hogwarts," said Ron.
"Well, I'll be eleven in a few months," said Rose. "Wait, does that mean I am going to go to Hogwarts for school?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "We'll have to talk about that some more, Rose. Your birthday is in 3 months, and apparently you will get a letter from Hogwarts that day inviting you to attend. If you want to go I am very much leaning towards letting you do it, but this is all so new I haven't really gotten my head around it yet. I had never planned to have you go to boarding school, and honestly I am not ready to have you move out yet. I just love you so much, and I will miss you terribly!" Hermione said with a bit of sadness.
"Oh Mum, I love you too. But you will be going to school to learn too. In some ways we will have to learn it together!"
"You're right, as usual, love. It's just so new. I am still getting used to it. But Ron keeps assuring me you will love it. And Hugo will love it. And I know you will love going there together."
"So, no wand for me tomorrow. But we'll definitely get one for you," said Rose.
"And Hugo and I will take you all around to the best shops."
"You are going to love Honeydukes, Rose. They have the best candy. It was Mummy's favorite place," Hugo said, his voice dropping to near whisper at the end.
"You're right, Hugo. Your Mummy adored Honeydukes," said Ron. "She had such a sweet tooth that she had an entire drawer of her desk at work just chock full of candy from there."
Hugo smiled hearing that. "Mummy and Daddy would have been so happy to know that you both are witches," Hugo said sincerely.
"I agree, Hugo. I think they are smiling at us right now, happy to know that we get to share this together now," said Hermione.
"I think so too," said Rose.
Harry had been surprised to get such a late floo call from his friend and brother in law, but he was so thrilled to hear the news that Ron quickly shared. As he explained everything to Ginny that night as they readied for bed, they both acknowledged how thrilled they were for Ron. They had both worried about him over the years. They knew he was happy as a bachelor auror and enjoyed being uncle, but they knew him well enough to know that he had truly wanted a family for years, but never had found the right witch. Harry marveled at how drastically Ron's life had changed in just a few months' time, and found himself really hoping that discovering Hermione and Rose were witches would somehow allow Ron to soon have the family he had only ever dreamed of before.