I apologize in advance for formatting, I've been writing while at work (don't tell my boss!) and I really wanted to get this chapter up for you guys. I know it's not particularly exciting but we definitely needed to settle in a bit.
Also, I obviously own nothing you recognize as part of the HP universe.
I wake up with the worst hangover I've had in recent memory. The boys and I stayed out until dawn, skiving off as only teens can. Except I'm not a teen at all and I need the greasiest breakfast possible to soak up the alcohol still bubbling around in my belly. I gather up my shower caddy and check on Crooks and Hedwig on my way to the bathroom. As I undress it occurs to me that in all the commotion I never thought to wonder about my scars or whatever spell had made me 16 again. I turn to face the full length mirror and realize that Dumbledore's time turning enchantment packed one hell of a punch. All my scars: ice skating accident – age 7, edge of the stone wall after seeing the basilisk – age 12, whomping willow – age 13, Bellatrix and Greyback. All gone. Astounded at the image of myself, the gears in my mind start to turn as I let down my long hair. In spite of all the work I've got ahead of me, I'm really going to live it up this time around. I have to make this my home, make this my life; in delivering that letter to the professors I had insured that the life I had known no longer existed.
Climbing into the shower, my brain starts to move at warp speed. As the hot water pelts my scalp and cascades down my back, I've decided that the first order of business is setting up a muggle bank account as well as a Gringotts account. I smile and hum as I work in conditioner, and as the lather thickens, I think I might have a handle on things. Soon I'm drying myself off and slipping into my black sundress, and my stomach is still rumbling. I tiptoe into the kitchen so as not to disturb anyone and just as I reach for my wand to get some coffee going a resounding POP causes me to jump back into a chair, promptly knocking it over. I hiss at the clatter and turn to glare at the culprit only to find the most adorable house elf I have ever laid eyes on. She has big blue eyes which are narrowed in disappointment, a snow white pillowcase with a blue embroidered paisley designed fashioned into a dress, and a matching blue bonnet. I find myself smiling when I'm suddenly forced into the now upright chair.
"Miss should not make such ruckus at this hour! Master and Mistress Potter and boy still sleeping! Rory will make strange breakfast that Miss craves." Blue Bonnet scolds.
I can't help but laugh as she hurries to prepare my "strange breakfast," a guilty pleasure I picked up in the states on a trip for WWW with Fred and George some years ago. The boys teased me mercilessly for my obsession with hash browns, fried chicken, and biscuits for breakfast.
As Rory fixes my breakfast I find myself lost in thought about all the good times with Fred. Unbeknownst to most people, I was a creative consultant for WWW. Instant Peruvian Darkness Powder? My idea. I also helped the boys with potions and spellwork. I may have always been a swot but I did have my fun. We used to meet every other weekend during vacations to work and the three of us truly got to know one another during long breaks filled with sandwiches, treats, and all manners of drinks. My reverie is broken as Rory quickly serves up my breakfast with a smile and a pat on my head, leaving me with the distinct notion that house elves are far more intuitive than wizards give them credit for. I look up to thank her and notice that she has started preparing more food, and just as I suspect, the sounds of a household rousing from sleep make their way down to me. With a small smile I dig into my meal.
About halfway through Mr. and Mrs. Potter join me at the table with cheerful smiles on their faces.
"Hermione, darling, you're up early! How did you sleep?" Helena asks me, refilling my cup of coffee.
"Yes, good morning, dear. Has the paper arrived yet?" Asks Harold as he smokes his morning pipe.
I'm overwhelmed with adoration for these parents I've only known a couple of days. I've been wondering to myself whether Harry will still be the good man I know him to be if he doesn't face the hardships he had to in our old life. But looking at his grandparents now, I have no doubt that being loving and kind is in the Potter genetic code. In this moment I know that no matter what I have to make Harry my motivation.
"Good morning! I'm quite well, I slept like a rock. The paper has not arrived yet but I think I hear owls approaching." I respond looking up at the window just as two owls swoop in. Helena digs into her food as Harold splits the paper with me, which is how the boys find us some ten minutes later.
As Rory clears the last plate off the table, I decide to start my day.
"I'm going to venture out to Gringotts today and then venture out into Muggle London. I'm somewhat short on clothes and I have some business for Dumbledore to attend to. But, before I go, could I speak to you alone Mr. and Mrs. Potter?"
I can tell that I have caught them off-guard and I receive questionable looks from the guys, but true to their form the Potters just nod and Rory shoots me a small smile as she ushers the boys out of the room.
"No time for nosy nelsons!" I hear her say as she wards the kitchen behind her. We laugh but I can see the Potters shooting worried glances at each other. I decide to dive in.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I assume Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall spoke to you regarding our meeting earlier this week? Could you please fill me in on how much they disclosed to you?"
"Hermione," Harold starts, folding up his glasses and packing a new pipe "Please call us Harold and Helena, we're more than happy to fill you in on what was discussed, if you promise to fill up any gaps you deem important."
"Harry!" Helena scolds "Don't ask her to do that! I'm so sorry dear!"
"It's quite all right, Helena. I'm in your home, around your family, you've trusted me more than enough. I owe you information. Harold, let's begin."
"Dumbledore tells us you're working for the Order of the Phoenix. He says you come from a long line of Seers and that's why your family was targeted by death eaters. You're going to be an integral part of winning this war and both professors have the utmost confidence and trust in you." Harold says casually as he pours us all more coffee.
"And what do you think?" I ask, genuinely curious.
"Helena and I both believe that there is more to the story."
"-What Harold means is that while we believe that some details are indeed being omitted, we're sure it's for everyone's safety. But we do trust you, Hermione. We think you're a fine young woman with an enormous burden to bear. But we know it will be okay." Helena rushes out, holding my hand across the table.
"Thank you both for your kind words but nothing is okay, and for me nothing will really ever be okay again. Dumbledore said my family was targeted and that they're all dead, this is true. But I'm not just having visions, I'll also be embarking on missions for the Order. I don't know how many of the members will be alerted to the fact that I'm in the Order, let alone that I'll be handling my own field operations. I see the looks on your faces, I know you're thinking I'm too young. But I promise that I'm… experienced in this matter. My concern is that I don't want to endanger anybody. I will do my best to keep everyone around me safe. This family is the family that matters to me now. However, if you do not want me to stay here, given this information, I won't take it personally."
It feels good to get these things off my chest. It isn't until I feel Helena's steady embrace that I realize I've been shaking. I look over to Harold and see that his eyes are brimming with tears and lit up with a fire I can't quite place but it seems so incredibly familiar.
"Young lady, you aren't going anywhere. This is your home now. You can't call us family on minute and expect us to feel polite indifference. We trust you, now we know that you'll be honest with us and keep us abreast of your goings on. That's enough of that for today." With that he quickly pats my head and makes his way out of the kitchen.
Helena now pulls away from me and as she and Rory, who has just entered, switch posts at the sink, she smiles at me and says "It'll be nice to have a daughter."
My heart feels like it's going to explode.
Fifteen minutes later and I'm gathering up my bonds (now current but still incredibly valuable) and jewelry. Just as I head to the Floo, Sirius approaches me.
"I've never been to muggle London." He says almost bashfully. "It's dangerous right now and I figured since you're going to Diagon Alley first, we could maybe make a deal."
"What sort of deal might that be?" I ask, smiling.
"Well… I back you up in Diagon Alley and in return you show me around Muggle London."
I hesitate for just a second but the excited glint in his eyes ushers my answer out before I can really process the implications of such an excursion.
"Yes. Sure. Why not." I hear myself say. Thus, with a whirl of dust and bright green flames, Sirus and I arrive in Diagon Alley. I cast my eyes up at the bright blue sky and hope for the best.
"So, Smythe, where exactly are we going again?"
"I have to open up my own account at Gringotts. My parents always did our banking and while I'm not poor by any means, I have no liquid assets at the moment." I answer easily. As we make our way to Gringotts, I catch Sirius staring at me rather intently on more than occasion.
While we wait for Finnruk, my goblin banker who seems to surprisingly like me more than most goblins like, well… anyone, I finally ask Sirius what his deal is.
"Is there a reason you keep staring at me Sirius?"
"What?! Erm.. I wasn't staring…" is the excellent reply I receive.
"Come on, Sirius, don't play daft."
"Okay, well, you're quite fit." He says with a smirk. But then a blush spreads across his cheeks and he continues "Your hair is so icy brown but on the whole walk here the sun brought out the warmest gold in it. Looked like you had a right halo."
His admission is both flattering and baffling, but before I can respond Finnruk is back with my bonds converted into wizarding and muggle money. Sirius volunteers to wait as I accompany Finnruk to vault number 413, the new vault of Hermione Smythe. Once in the cart Finnruk proceeds to tell me that I have he has separated the money as I requested. 75% in wizarding money and the rest in muggle pounds. The total of all my cash plus the jewelry as assets comes to more money than I can count in a lifetime, but I suppose that was the goal. The small silver lining of sacrificing the entire life I've known. If Sirius notices a change in my temperament when I return, he doesn't mention it.
Soon we're making our way out of the Leaky Cauldron and making idle chit chat. I find a muggle bank to my liking fairly quickly and soon my errands for the day are done. As we exit the bank Sirius grabs my hand.
"Ready to show me around?" He asks excitedly, and I'm more than happy to oblige. We visit museums, department stores, book shops, and even auto shops, before settling down to have lunch. Somehow we've managed to accumulate gifts for the whole family as well as a few goodies for ourselves.
"Hey, Mi, I had a lot of fun. Muggles are pretty great. Those lifty things were nice!"
"I'm glad you had fun and they're called Lifts." I say laughing. I'm fairly surprised at what a nice time I'm having hanging out with Sirius Black of all people and I ignore the new nickname entirely.
As we eat our lunch we talk about James, Remus, and Peter. I get to hear all about the shenanigans that have occurred thus far, and I think about the ones that have not yet come to pass.