Jane took a shaky breath as she looked over a letter from Sophia. Tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped down onto the page below. She couldn't believe she had missed another big moment. Couldn't believe she had allowed herself to be separated from her daughter.

Dearest Jane,

Another big moment has passed you by. Hermione and Viktor had their engagement party tonight. I would have enclosed a photo but I don't think I will anymore. This will be my last letter to you. I'm sorry Jane but you're missing out on so much and I feel like I'm enabling you to do so.

Sophia

Ps: Hermione will be a stunning bride, it's too bad you won't be there to see it…

She took a shaky breathed as she crumpled the letter and threw it away. She wasn't angry with Sophia. How could she be? The woman had gone above and beyond the call of duty as a care taker.

"I'm such an awful mother…" She whispered as she let a heart wrenching sob escape her.

"I'm your father-."

"You're a sperm donor." Hermione said and his eyes narrowed. "Because a true father would never beat his daughter to a bloody pulp or blame them for their sibling's natural death."

"Don't you dare bring little Jack into this." Jane said. "You should be kinder to your father."

"You always stuck up for him." Hermione said and Viktor could see and hear the anger. "Every time. Oh he slapped you across the face, well you know how he gets when he's been drinking. Oh he threw you down the stairs, you should have finished your dinner. Oh he split your lip and fractured your wrist, well you know how brittle your bones are I'm sure he didn't mean it!"

Jane slowly stood remembering that night as her eyes rested on a photo booth picture of her and her daughter.

"I miss you so much…" Hermione said her jaw clenching. "I love you so much… Which is why I'm being so cruel… You have to see mum. You have to see what dad has made me become has made me do. He hit me mum. He hit me and screamed such horrible things and you always stood by. I know you were scared. I understand that fear in a way. Though I will never understand how you just stood by. I know the fear you had though. I know you hold the same fear now as you cling to your marriage with him… But this isn't the way. You can be happier. I promise you'll be happier. I love you…" She slowly kissed her tear stained cheek. "One day you'll remember this conversation, not the one that's being said angrily but the one we just had in this tiny fragment of time… I love you… Always know that…" Hermione slowly walked up the steps and went back to Viktors side. Instantly time resumed and the harsh conversation continued.

"Oh my god…" Jane said softly. "That small moment… She doesn't hate me… She loves me. She wants me in her life… I won't be separated from her any longer. I'll be the mother she wants me to be. The mother she deserves." She turned and rushed to her closet. "She's brave… I'll be brave too." She took out a suit case and started to throw her clothes in. She didn't even stop to fold them. As she did she laughed in triumph. She could feel it, taste it, freedom.

"What's going on up here?" Jack asked as he walked in. "What the bloody hell are you doing?" He asked seeing her suitcase.

"Leaving Jack." She said with a smile.

"Leaving?" he asked. "Leaving leaving?"

"Yes… This was never the life I wanted…" She said facing him. "You'll be okay… You always find away."

"Aren't we going to talk about this?"

"We haven't talked in months and you know what I've been happy not talking to you. Thrilled in fact!" She laughed and it was cynical but very genuine. "I'm going to be with our daughter."

"She left us!"

"Yes and now I'm going to join her in the leaving. You deserve to be on your own. You deserve to wallow in your whiskey and sorrow. I don't. Little jack is gone but Hermione is still here and I intend to love her and cherish her the way I was meant to." The door bell sounded.

"Don't leave yet… I want to talk." Jack said before rushing down the stairs.

"I won't be here when you come back." She said grabbing her suit case and closing it as she rushed to the study where the only other chimney was and where she had stashed a small amount of floo powder.

-o-

Hermione tossed in her sleep as horrible screams filled her head. She jolted up in bed pulled from her nightmare as she gave a gasp for air. In that moment as oxygen filled her lungs whatever nightmare she had been having was chased away but the fear remained.

"Luff are you alright?" Viktor asked as he slowly sat up in bed.

"Yes…" She said. "Yes I'm fine I just had a bad dream." He sat up.

"What was it about?" he inquired.

"I honestly don't remember…" She said softly as her heart continued to pound I her chest. She slowly looked to the window to see the sun was rising. "I'm going to go get ready for the day."

"Me too luff, I'll meet you in the dining room for breakfast."

"Mhm." She said as she yawned and stretched. Despite the nightmare she couldn't remember she felt wonderful. She had been sleeping better than she ever had, and she was thankful. She got a hot shower washed her hair and pulled on a pair of crème skinny jeans and a white peasant shirt. She dried her hair magically and pinned her hair up in a carefree curly bun. She was looking forward to going to Grimmuald. Looking forward to talking in depth with Harry and Ron. She pulled out her wand and looked it over with a smile as she headed out the door and apperated to the drawing room connected to the dining room.

Today was the best day out all the week. It was blueberry French toast day. One of her favorites. One of Stony's favorites as well. He usually spent the morning shooting the tiny blue berries at anyone who sat down at the table. She had gotten fairly good at dodging them and was looking forward to another round of Blueberry war showdown.

"Morning Mickles." She said to a small elf who was dusting the drawing room. She quirked an eyebrow when the elf said nothing in return but instead smiled softy at her. "Must not be feeling well…" She headed into the dining room and smiled. "Hello Krum Clan." She greeted as she nearly did every morning. She ruffled Stony's hair as she walked by him as she always did but stopped when he didn't swat at her hands. She looked down at him to see he had a sullen look. "Stony you alright?" He slowly looked up at her. "Are you not feeling well you look a little flushed." She felt his forehead. "You feel clammy…" She slowly looked around to see everyone was standing about the room staring at her. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were in the corner with Ivan, Viktor, and Sophia. "Mr, and Mrs. Weasley what are you doing here?" She asked with a pleasant look.

"Luff…" Viktor said slowly walking away from them. He had a serious look one she had never seen before. "I haf… Haf to tell you something."

"Alright…" She said with a small nervous laugh. "What's going on?" She asked.

"I think you should maybe take a seat…"

"Who's dead?" She suddenly asked with a dread filled look. "Who died? Who didn't make it?" She asked looking to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Oh god, Ron and Harry-."

"Are fine." Viktor said and she quickly looked to him.

"Oh…" She smiled softly. "That's good… Then what's happened?" He took her hands.

"I think you should-."

"I'd rather stand Viktor, please just tell me what has happened…" She said softly. Viktor looked her over for a long moment before he bowed his head and took a breath. "Viktor?" He slowly looked back up at her.

"Late last night… Long after we all went to bed there was an attack… At your parents' house."

"What?" She asked the color completely draining from her face.

"Luff… Your dad… He was killed." Her eyes welled up as she took a shaky breath.

"What about Mum?" She asked and he looked at her for a long moment. "Viktor what about my mum?"

"She… She didn't make it Luff…" Hermione took a sharp intake of breath as she curled over. "It's alright…" He caught her as she fell to her knees. "I'm so sorry Luff." Every one's eyes closed as Hermione let out a heart wrenching sob.

"No… No… No there's been a mistake… You've made a mistake." She said tears rolling down her face as she did.

"We identified her body…" Mr. Weasley said.

"Body?" Hermione asked her voice breaking. "Body?"

"We have to go to the house…" Mr. Weasley said as Viktor slowly helped Hermione stand.

"What house?" Hermione asked softly as her hand gripping onto Viktor's.

"Your parents' house…" Mr. Weasley said.

"Why we should go to the hospital I need to see them…" Hermione said.

"Luff… They're at the house…" Viktor stated and she slowly looked to him before looking to Mr. Weasley.

"The order left them there?" She asked her eyes narrowed. "You left them there!?"

"We can't move them… It's a murder scene dear." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Where was the order detail!?" Hermione yelled. "Where was the Order!? They were supposed to be protecting them you all promised me you'd be protecting them!"

"I know you're angry."

"You have no idea…" Hermione said her voice a deadly tone. "How long had they been dead?"

"Hermione-."

"How long Arthur?" She asked cutting him off.

"Maybe a few minutes." A vase beside him on a table exploded making everyone jump before looking to Hermione who had a livid look.

"Don't… Lie… To me…." Hermione said her jaw clenched so hard Viktor could hear it pop.

"A few hours…"

"Who did it, we must have leads?" Hermione asked trying to ignore the pain steadily growing in her chest or the tears that threatened to spill in front of everyone once more.

"We don't need to focus on that now."

"If you lie to me again the next thing that explodes will be the heart in your chest." Hermione said and everyone's eyes widened slightly.

"We don't know Hermione…" Mr. Weasley said and she gave a cynical laugh that struck fear into most standing in the room.

"So you need me to go to the house to tell you your leads isn't that right?" She asked starting to walk. "Dumbledore knows about what I can do and he's told the rest of you. You want me to dive into the minds of my dead parents to see what their last horrible memory was. Once again the Order needs me to clean up the horrible mess they made."

"Yes." Mr. Weasley said his jaw clenching.

"Where's the portkey?" She asked.

"We'll be going by floo." He said.

"We'll be going as well." Sophia said.

"I'm sorry it's strictly order business." Mr. Weasley said.

"Hermione Jane Grangers House." Hermione said throwing down the floo powder and being whisked away. She closed her eyes as she felt cool flames lick at her skin and send her flying to scene she knew deep down she shouldn't see. But once more she was having to clean up the mess the order had made. She felt herself land and slowly stepped out of the fireplace.

"Hermione…" Her eyes slowly opened and she looked to Fred and George.

"Get out." She said. "Everyone." She looked to Tonks Moody and Lupin. "Clear it I need the room." They nodded and slowly headed out of the house. She heard someone land behind her and knew it was Viktor.

"Oh my god…" He said in Bulgarian. The house was in shambles. It looked as if a tornado had ripped through it. His eyes slowly set on a bloody sheet at the base of the stairs in front of the door. Hermione was walking towards it with no fear in her step. He watched as she pulled the sheet away and stared down at the bloody burnt body of her father. "Mina."

"I'm fine." She said walking to the other side and kneeling. "This isn't my father."

"It's not?" he asked.

"It's a body… Whatever made this body my father is gone…" He slowly nodded. She was being logical. He guessed that was a good thing. It was after all the only thing protecting her from the true carnage of the household.

"What are you doing?' He asked seeing her pull out her wand.

"I'm going to dive into his mind see his last memory." She said. "Who knows maybe I'll figure out who did this…"

"Are you sure you want to do that." She looked to him to see he was walking over.

"They need justice." She said and he slowly nodded.

Hermione took a deep breath before she set her hand atop her fathers head. Her eyes drifted closed and Viktor watched as she took a steadying breath before she took another harsh intake as her eyes opened wide eclipsed in white. After a few seconds she blinked a tear rolling down her cheek as she did.

"He died on impact…" She said. "He didn't see a thing…" Her eyes drifted down to her father. "He was always useless." Viktor stared at her as he watched her throw the sheet over her father's dead body. She slowly walked up the stairs to where another body lay covered in a sheet. Hermione stopped at the top step seeing her mother's hand peeking out from the blood stained sheet. She took a deep breath as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. She fell back against the wall and slid to the nearest step.

"You don't haf to do this." Viktor said kneeling at her side.

"We'll never know who did this if I don't." Hermione said softly. "If I had seen it through his eyes I don't think I would have cared that much." She said looking to her father's body at the bottom of the stairs. "My mom though, she didn't deserve any of this… She was sweet and kind…" She let out a sob. "I was so awful to her the last time we spoke Viktor… I said such awful things… She probably thought I hated her."

"No luff…" He said taking her hand.

"She was supposed to be leaving him I saw her leaving him…" She said. "I saw it Viktor I knew… How could I have seen it if this was going to happen?"

"I don't know Luff." He said wiping one of her tears away with his thumb.

"I… I can't do this Viktor." She said looking to him. "I can't…" He took her in his arms as she let out a sob. "I can't I'm not strong enough."

"It's not about strength…" he said holding her close. "You shouldn't have to… Let the Order fix this, they owe you so much more than just that."

"My mother's dead…"

"I know Luff… I wish I could change this…" He said as she held onto him tightly. "Come on… I'm taking you home." He slowly lifted her up onto her feet and walked her down the stairs. The farther away she got away from her mother the more and more she cried.

"Miss Granger?"

"Not now Dumbledore." Viktor said walking Hermione past the older wizard. "She needs time to deal with this."

"Your mother is Alive." They both instantly stopped. "She's waiting for you Miss Granger." Hermione slowly turned.

"What?" She asked.

"I'll explain everything when we get there but we need to leave now… No one can know I was here."

"Take me."

"I can only take Hermione for right now, but I will come back for you." Dumbledore said to Viktor.

"Of course take her." He said and Dumbledore nodded as he leant his arm. Hermione took it and instantly they were gone. Viktor stood there. Unsure of what to think. Hermiones mothers body lay not twenty feet from where he stood, yet Dumbledore claimed she was still alive. He really hoped the older wizard wasn't playing with her, if he was, Viktor would be called to do something quite extreme against her head master. A pop sounded and he turned seeing Dumbledore.

"Shall we?"

"Yes." He said with a nod. He closed his eyes as he felt a familiar pull at his navel before his feet landed on the ground.

"Where is she?" He turned seeing Hermione. They were standing in a large foray.

"I need to explain some things first..." Dumbledore said. "Your mother was involved in the attack last night but I found her alive, your father was already dead… which is why I left him. I took her here to my house for the best care. Then I realized something."

"We needed to fake her death so no more death eaters come after her which is why there's somebody else's body lying on the second floor of their house." Hermione said quickly. "Where's my mother?"

"If you figured out that much then you must have figured out the second part of this situation."

"Yes I know please, I need to see her." Hermione said while Viktor tried hard to keep up. Everything was moving so fast. First Hermione's mother was dead now she was alive, but what was the second part of the situation?

"Can you do it?" Dumbledore asked.

"Of course I can." Hermione said.

"I do not mean to interrupt but do what?" Viktor asked.

"I have to wipe my mother's memory…" Hermione said softly her jaw clenching.

"What?" he asked his eyes wide.

"Her memories of me of everything about me about the life she led because of me. They have to be casted away for her protection." She said. "This was the plan all along I knew I was going to have to do it eventually… I just didn't think I would be doing it now." She said softly.

"Wipe her memory?" Viktor asked. "Luff are you sure?

"It's either this or the next time they will kill her Viktor…" Hermione said with a pained expression. "I can't go through her death again…"

"In a way this will be like another death Hermione…" He said walking to her.

"You protect your family Viktor…" She said. "You must understand this more than anyone else. If you had to would you do it to protect me?"

"Yes…" He said softly.

"Then you understand why I have to do this."

"I am…" His jaw clenched as he willed his voice not to break. "Sad for you Mina…" he took her hand, his heart breaking for her in that moment.

"Will you be with me? When I-."

"Yes." He said. "Every moment." She slowly nodded before turning and looking to Dumbledore.

"I'm ready."

"Through that door, you have five minutes." She slowly nodded before walking to a large gold door. She slowly reached for the handle and took a breath before twisting it and pushing open the door.

"Hermione?" A bruised woman sat up in the bed and for a moment Viktor hadn't recognized Jane thanks to the injuries.

"Mum…" Hermione's hand broke from his and she rushed over to the bed.

"Oh my darling girl."

"Mum I'm so sorry." Hermione whispered as she wrapped her arms around her. "I'm so sorry…"

"No no I'm sorry…" Jane said with a watery laugh as she held her close.

"I said such terrible things to you in the park."

"We both know why you did it… I remembered love… Those secret whispers…" She said and Hermione pulled away as her mother cupped her cheek. "I was leaving your dad… When they came to the door… Your father… Is he alright? I keep asking the little elf but he won't talk to me dear…" Hermione looked over her mother. "He didn't look fine but no one will say."

"He's fine mum, still… Still being worked on." Viktor looked over Hermione. "That's why he isn't with you… He's in another room."

"I can see it in your eyes the worry… You don't have to worry you and I won't be separated again." A tear fell down her cheek and her mother wiped it away. "I'm not going to go back to him not even after this… Your mother Viktor… She wrote to me last night told me about the party… I'm so sorry I missed it…" She looked back to Hermione. "I'll tell you one thing though I'm not going to miss your wedding…" Hermione's jaw clenched tightly. "You two… I'm so glad you found one another…"

"Mum… This is important who came to the door did you see?"

"They were in masks… Such… Horrid metal masks." She said softly her voice breaking. "They said this strange word and this horrible pain filled me…"

"That would bet he cruciatis curse… It's one of the ones out loud in our world…" Viktor said.

"Mum do you remember anything about them other than the masks?"

"One had long white hair sticking out from his cloak and he had a wand different from yours."

"How so?" Hermione asked.

"He pulled it… From a cane… it had a snake head as a handle…" Hermione slowly nodded. "Does that help dear?"

"Yes… It does…" Hermione said softly as she hid her anger.

"Miss Granger… It's about your father…" Dumbledore said from the door.

"I'll be right back…" She said kissing the back of her mothers hand and walking to the door to meet with her headmaster.

"It's been five minutes time is of the essence…" He whispered.

"Please… Just five more."

"Viktor Dear…" Viktor slowly looked to Jane who had her hand out. "Come here dear boy…" He slowly walked over and took her hand. "Something is about to happen… I know…" He looked away. "I can feel the separation just like I did that night at Hogwarts…" Viktor slowly looked back to her.

"I can't say-."

"You don't have to… Whatever is going to happen I'm sure Hermione has her reasons… or someone else does at least and if Hermione trusts those reasons then so must I…" He slowly nodded. He now saw where Hermione got her intelligence from. "My daughter… She's more fragile then she seems… You have to promise me you'll take care of her… Take care of her like I never could like her father never could." A tear fell down her cheek. "Promise me Viktor."

"I make this vow to you here and now…" He said. "I will strive every second of every day to meet the needs of your daughter no matter what they might be. She will never want for anything because I will provide it. I will take care of her in any way she needs. Whether it be a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, arms to be held in, or a side to stand by in the face of adversity… I will be there for her through it all even if she screams at me to leave… I vow to you now I never will… And yes, I will love her, always." A tear rolled down Jane's cheek.

"Alright uhm Dad is coming out of surgery…" Hermione said walking over and Jane wiped the tear away before she could see.

"Thank you my darling boy…" Jane said softly and Viktor nodded as he backed away.

"Thank you for what?" Hermione asked as she took her mothers hand.

"He was just telling me a joke, it made me smile…" She said pushing a strand of her daughter's hair away. "You've found yourself a good man…"

"Yes… I have…" Hermione said with a soft expression.

"So… How much time do we have?" Hermione slowly looked down at her mother.

"What?" She asked.

"Come my darling girl, you don't have to hide it from me…" She looked down at her hands. "I don't need to know why, I just want to know how much time we have…"

"Five more minutes." Hermione said softly as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Come here love." She put out her arms and Hermione crawled into the bed next to her and wrapped her arms around her. "That's not a lot of time to say everything that needs to be said."

"And I always hated cliff notes." Jane laughed softly as she smoothed out her daughters hair.

"Listen to me carefully love, I have to fit in a lifetime of advice in a few minutes."

"It won't be a lifetime…"

"Shhh… I need you to promise me the following things…" Jane said with a soft smile.

"Anything…"

"Promise me you'll enjoy your innocence as long as you can… Never ever dumb your self down I know this can be hard for you. You stick by your friends Hermione, even when you're terrified. Get into some mischief from time to time, it's good for you." Hermione laughed softly. "Beat the boys at their own game whenever you can." She laughed again and Viktor smiled as he sat down in a chair. "Believe in something bigger then yourself even if it's not logical too…" Hermione smiled softly. "Travel Hermione, whenever you can. Where ever you can… Promise me you'll try and read some of the silly things too not just history and magical theorem… Accept yourself for you are, this includes your intelligence, and your wild curly hair…" They both laughed softly. "Never be afraid to laugh at yourself… Say something good about yourself once a day even when it's painful too… Be a protector, it's what you were born to do… No when to make the hard choices and accept those decisions and never regret them." A tear rolled down Hermione's cheeks as her eyes shut tightly. Their time was nearly done.

"What else?" Hermione asked softly as she reached for her wand discreetly.

"Promise you'll never be too afraid to ask for help… Promise me you won't let your pride get in the way of connected with people… And Hermione…" Her mother's voice broke. "If you can't do any of the other things please promise me you won't be afraid to love… I know how scarred your heart is and how afraid you are to open your heart but promise me you'll ignore the ache there and leave yourself open completely to accept the love you so much deserve…"

"I promise mum…" Hermione said softly as tear rolled down her cheeks and she slowly got out of the bed.

"I won't you to remember something about today…" Jane said looking to her as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm okay with this… I'm not angry." A sob escaped Hermione as she wiped a tear away. "You are completing one of your promises to me and I couldn't be more proud… You're making a hard decision, and not regretting it… I'll always be your mother…" Hermione slowly raised her wand. "Always…"

"Goodbye mum…" Hermione said softly.

"Not goodbye… See you later… I love you so much…"

"I love you too." Hermione said softly as her eyes drifted closed and she took a calming breath as tears rolled down her cheeks. She slowly opened them and took another calming breath. "Obliviate…" She whispered her voice breaking as she did. Viktor watched as white wisps flowed from her mothers forehead to her wand.

"I'm so… So proud of you dear…" Jane said as she tried hard to hold onto some memory of her daughter. "I love you… So… So…" Jane slowly looked off. "So…" Her eyes slowly drifted closed before she rested back on her pillow and was whisked away into darkness. Hermione dropped to her knees instantly as she covered her mouth to muffle a loud sob. Viktor quickly walked to her side and wrapped his arms around her.

"She'll be taken care of… Happy…" Dumbledore said walk in. "I promise…"

"You've promised her quite enough don't you think?" Viktor asked before he and Hermione disappeared with a pop.