CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Summary: Hermione is running. She is running from rogue Death Eaters bent on revenge, the fame that surrounds her after the war and an overbearing ex-boyfriend and his mother, insisting that they marry, regardless of her ex being a cheating weasel. She finds a quiet town in the States and meets a handsome young man, one that gives her a new outlook on life and a new love. The kind of love she had craved.
Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters; they belong to J.K Rowling and Stepenie Myers. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. As for the descriptions of appearances for the Twilight characters, all my research is based on the books and not the movies.
Friday 30th June 2006
Hermione made a noise of frustration and Seth popped his head into her potions lab.
"What's up?" he asked her.
"Jacob's still complaining of pain and I've run out of... for my pain potions. I've also got no... left and I need it so I can brew the Numbing Cream. On top of that, I can't make a start on a new batch of Polyjuice, Dreamless Sleep nor a Contraceptive Potion since I don't have the ingredients to do so. My supply stores are a lot lower than I previously thought. I have nothing. Nothing!" she huffed and crossed her arms.
He chuckled at her. "Jake's just being a baby," Seth informed her. "He likes the fact that you're all but waiting on him hand and foot, and so is my mom when she visits."
"I don't understand," she sighed, running her hand through her hair. "Jacob's x-rays show that his bones have grown back and although I've had to constantly re-break them, they've healed exactly like they should've. I'm just waiting for the bone to harden until I allow him to see if he can walk. I know that he should still feel achy and tired, but he shouldn't be in need of a full dosage of pain potion. It's been five days."
"He's milking it," he shrugged, walking over to her and pulling her into him. "I'm sure he's still feeling some pain, but not to the extent of what he has been."
"Why would he do that?"
"He's being taken care of by a beautiful young woman, regardless of the fact she already has a boyfriend."
"You don't seem upset by this," she leaned back to look at his face.
He smirked at her, a look that was foreign on his face.
"No, I'm not. I know you love me and I know Jake wouldn't overstep his mark. He's just lapping up the attention. And, I knew that when you'd figured out what it was he's doing, you'd want revenge."
Her eyes glimmered and he laughed.
"I wonder how fast Fred and George can get some products to me," she mused.
"And that's why I love you," he pecked her on the lips.
"Oh, so it's not for my cooking skills?"
He laughed at her. "Obviously, no one can give me food poisoning quite like you."
She slapped at his chest whilst scowling playfully.
"Hermione! It hurts!" Jacob called from his room.
Hermione grumbled under her breath in a foreign language and Seth chuckled.
"I haven't got enough ingredients and..."
"Wait a minute," Seth said frowning. "Did you say you couldn't make any more of your Contraception Potion?"
"Yes," she raised an eyebrow.
"How much have you got left?" he questioned her.
"Nothing, I took the last vial at the beginning of the month and it's worn off now."
"You need to go shopping, like now," he said with a serious look on his face, making her laugh at him.
"I can't leave Jacob."
"He's out of the woods now, like you said, his bones have grown back in the correct places and you're just waiting for them to harden. As long as he doesn't leave the bed he's fine. I'll stay with him and keep an eye on him until you get back, and Paul and the pups are in the living room, so I've got them for back up."
"Don't you want to come with me?" she questioned.
"To your magical stores?"
She nodded. Excitement lit his face.
"I would love too, but I don't think we should leave Paul alone with the pups, or Jacob for that matter." Hermione nodded in agreement. "So your next trip, I'll come with you."
She smiled at him and kissed his cheek, pulling back from him and making her way to Jacob's room.
"I'm sorry, but you can't have any more Pain Potion, nor can you have any more Dreamless Sleep."
"Why not?" he pouted. "It hurts."
She rolled her eyes. "I've ran out, Seth's going to keep an eye on you whilst I do a few errands and pick up some more ingredients so I can brew more of the potions. You're a big boy, you'll have to manage the pain. I shouldn't be too long."
She left the room and quickly headed back to her potion's lab, using a self-writing quill and some paper, and spelling them to take inventory so she knew which ingredients she needed to purchase. She then left it to it and headed to her bedroom.
She brushed her hair and pulled it into a messy bun and she looked down at her clothing, which were covered in potion splashes. She quickly changed into a summer dress since she knew from her letters London was rather warm at the minute.
Her white dress had a rounded neckline and showed off her shoulders. The lilac floral pattern covered the bodice and skirt which fell to her mid-thigh, with some grey shading. She slipped on some white ballet pumps and grabbed a pair of white robes, slipping them over the top. She slipped her wand into her pocket along with her beaded bag and she nodded to herself in the mirror.
She collected the completed ingredients list and slipped it into her pocket and she said her goodbyes to Seth and Jacob, who were conversing in his room.
"Where are you going?" Paul asked with a raised eyebrow, looking up from the Quidditch book he had found on her shelf, whilst Brady and Collin lifted their heads from another magical creatures tomb.
"I'm out of potion ingredients, I literally have nothing. And now Jacob is over the worst of his injuries, Seth said he'd watch him whilst I head to Diagon Alley and get what I need."
"You're going to your magical world?" Brady asked, looking excited and shaking in his seat, whilst Collin mirrored him.
Honestly, if she didn't know any better she would say they were twins. Their mannerisms were similar to how Fred and George interacted.
"I am yes, I shouldn't be too long, I have a few hours before the alley closes for the night," she looked up at the clock and did the mental math.
"Can we come?" Collin asked.
She looked at them amused. "I'm afraid you're minors and if I were to just suddenly take you out of the country and someone were to find out, I would be arrested for kidnapping. I'd need your parent's permission and seeing as they don't know about me, I can't."
She thought they'd look dejected, but they just grinned at her mischievously, she arched a brow in response.
"Actually, our fathers have gone fishing for the week, they only left last night and won't be back until next Friday." Brady grinned.
"Sue's looking after us for the week, so you'd need permission from her," Collin spoke.
Paul chuckled at the blank look on her face and she blinked at them.
"They've got you there, and we both know Sue wouldn't say no to you, she already sees you as her daughter."
Hermione blinked again.
"He's right!" Seth's voice called from Jacob's room and she scowled at him, though he couldn't see.
"Keep your ears to yourself," she spoke, his laughter filled the room. She turned back to the grinning pups and sighed, she wouldn't tell them this as they'd use it against her, but they both had adorable puppy eyes.
"Fine," she spoke and they yelled and punched the air in victory, causing Paul to snort as he turned another page in his book.
"But we have rules." They both sat down and composed themselves, nodding seriously. "No running off. Don't touch anything unless I say you can, I don't want you getting hurt, or worse, killed." They gulped and nodded. "You have to listen to everything I say and you have stay close to me, I don't want you getting lost in the crowd of hundreds of people. Don't talk to strangers and don't take anything anyone offers you."
"We promise," they spoke together. She rolled her eyes.
She summoned some black robes and resized them to fit them perfectly.
"Put these on, you'll blend in. Hopefully no one will recognise me, I can't be done with The Prophet writing an article about my sudden reappearance, and I swear to Merlin, if I see Ronald or Skeeter, I'm punching them in the face." Paul chuckled.
"That's my girl! Kick their asses!" Seth called.
Hermione rolled her eyes once more. She held out her hands and the pups seeing Seth do it plenty of times, stood and gripped her hands tightly, even if they towered over her, Hermione had to remind herself that these were thirteen year old boys.
"I shouldn't be more than a few hours."
Paul shrugged. "Get some more of that fire-stuff, yeah?"
"Fine," she sighed and she disappeared from view.
After apparating to Seth's house, she spoke with Sue who was more than happy for the pups to accompany her to Diagon Alley, stating that she trusted Hermione to watch over them and that it was a once in a lifetime experience for the boys.
The pups grinned at her smugly and Sue smiled knowingly.
"Puppy eyes?" Sue had said. Hermione had grumbled in reply.
And after apparating to Port Angeles, she kept the boys close to her and flooed them to Diagon Alley. They had looked around in awe, when they landed in the Leaky Cauldron, patrons sat at the bar and tables, drinking fire whisky and elf-wine, conversing and laughing, whilst trays of alcohol and food were floating about, going between the bar and tables.
Hermione ushered the boys out of the pub and into the crowded alley.
"Wow!" they both said, their eyes taking everything in and their hands that still gripped hers, tightened and she felt them shaking in excitement.
She smiled at the sight, and she knew how they felt, she had the same reaction every time she set foot in Diagon Alley. The sights, sounds and smells never got old.
As usual the alley was bustling with shoppers, children darting between them as they laughed loudly, people were window shopping and children were pressed up against the glass of the shops, watching the window displays in awe. Small stall owners shouted their prices and products, gaining the attention of passersby and shopping bags floated behind their buyers. The sun shone down, gleaming on the windows and she caught sight of Fred and George's shop, but how couldn't she with the orange and magenta colours blinding her?
Happy. Free. Wonderful.
Those are the words that sprang to mind to describe Diagon Alley in its prime.
"What do you think, pups?" she asked.
They turned to her, wide eyed and mouths open and suddenly they burst into speech, talking over each other and waving their hands about excitedly, she chuckled at them and when they took a breath, she linked her arms through theirs and joined the crowd, heading straight towards the potions supply shop.
When she entered the pups grimaced and covered their noses. She had to admit, the rotten eggs and cabbage smell even made her feel sick, and she didn't envy the boys and their sensitive smell.
"I'll be quick, I promise," she told them.
With that she removed her arms from theirs and they followed her through the aisles as she collected jars of what she needed, she was buying in bulk as it was cheaper and most of the ingredients had a fairly decent expiration date, so she wouldn't need to purchase them a for while afterwards. The pups carried some for her and others she had them following as they floated behind them. After close to thirty minutes they placed everything on the counter.
"Hello, Miss Granger," Frank spoke with a smile.
"Hello, Frank, how have you been?" she asked the one hundred and forty-five year old man behind the counter. His white hair fell to his shoulders and his green eyes were swallowed up by wrinkles, but Hermione could still see the kind sparkle that reminded her of Seth.
"Better now that you're back," he grinned.
Hermione laughed softly. "I'm not back, Frank, I'm only visiting. I have a few errands to run and let's face it, you have the best quality ingredients here, and are one of the best procurers." His pale face flushed.
"You are too kind to an old man."
"You're not old, you're wise."
"Yes, wise, I like that better." She chuckled at him. "Where have you moved to?" he asked her curiously.
"America," she said vaguely.
"And is one of these young men your boyfriend."
Hermione chuckled and looped her arms through theirs. "Nope, they're only thirteen."
His eyes widened and he spluttered, obviously looking them up and down.
"Genetics," Hermione shrugged, whilst the pups looked sheepish.
He cleared his throat. "I am terribly sorry for what Mr Weasley did to you."
Hermione raised her eyebrow. "I've been told the newspapers are blaming me, calling me a home wrecker."
"Yes, I don't believe a word of it," he huffed. "You would never do what you are being accused of. Half the population knows this and the other half are idiots." Hermione laughed at him. "The timeline doesn't work out, you were with Mr Weasley for nine months, whilst he was with that Brown girl for seven, it's obvious who's at fault. And I pity that poor child, having parents such as those two," he shook his head sadly.
"I came out on top," she smiled and he looked at her curiously. "I've met someone."
"Does he treat you well?" he asked, looking concerned.
"Yes, Frank, he does, far better than I deserve."
"Seth worships the ground you walk on, Hermione," Brady cut in.
"Yeah, he loves you, you're all he talks about, the others are always teasing him," Collin said and Hermione's cheeks heated slightly.
Frank nodded in approval at their words.
"Your secret's safe with me, Miss Granger," Frank winked at her and she smiled at him. She took her bags, of which there were many and she shrunk them down and put them in her pocket.
"Well, that's all I pretty much came here for, would you like to have a look around?" she asked the pups as they stepped out of the shop. Their wide eyes were all the confirmation she needed.
So, for the next hour the pups dragged her towards shops that seemed to interest them, Hermione would tell them what it was and what they sold and if they were still interested, they looked around inside.
"We'll just make a quick stop here."
"What's Madam Malkin's?" Brady asked.
"A clothing shop." They both looked horrified and she laughed at them. "Don't worry, I hate clothes shopping, but I need to pick something up." She pulled them inside.
"Miss Granger," Madam Malkin all but tripped over herself to reach her. "How may I help you?" her eyes gleamed, in hopes of plenty of galleons being spent, as well as gossip on her failed relationship.
"Hello, Madam Malkin," Hermione said politely. "I'm in need of a few robes suitable for potion brewing."
"Of course, any particular colour?"
"I would like two black, one white, one red and one blue, please. I am the same size as before."
"Coming right up," she turned to leave.
"And," she turned back around to Hermione, looking hopeful that she was about to spend more money than she thought. "Brady and Collin here are in need of some robes too."
Her eyes roamed over the pups and they shifted uncomfortably, Hermione's eyes narrowed, recognising that look in the woman's eyes.
"I wouldn't be having those thoughts Madam," Hermione warned.
"Thoughts?" she said innocently.
"Not only are they under my care, they're thirteen years old."
Madam Malkin looked ill at the reveal, though she did give them a disbelieving once over again.
"If you'd just follow me please and we'll get you measured," she spoke, after pulling herself together.
After standing on the podium and being measured, Madam Malkin asked which colours they'd prefer.
The pups each chose a simple black and a simple white. The order was completed quickly and Hermione paid for the robes and then left the shop.
"We get our own robes?" Brady asked excitedly.
"I should hope so, they're not going to fit me," she chuckled in reply and they beamed at her. "You can't be a potion's apprentice without robes," she told them.
"Hermione, what's that place?"
Hermione chuckled as she knew exactly what they were pointing out, even without looking.
"Remember my brothers, Fred and George?"
"The pranksters," Collin nodded, looking excited. "That's their joke store?"
"It is," she replied amused.
"Can we go inside?"
"Of course, no doubt the twins would be upset if we didn't."
Hermione led them to the bright orange door and the minute it opened, sound filled their ears and their sight was filled with people crowded in the room and products lining the walls and shelves and even some floating in the air. A canon ball let out a bang and was thrown through the air and before it smashed into a display case, it disappeared, before another bang was heard.
"Whoa, this place is awesome," they whispered, showing their true awe. Out of all the shops they had seen, this was their favourite and she knew it.
"Princess!" Hermione looked up, seeing Fred and George stood on the balcony overlooking the shop floor. They had large grins on their faces and their arms were spread out wide, expecting a hug.
"That is Fred and George," Hermione explained to the pups, and she pulled them through the crowd and up the stairs.
She was swooped up by Fred and into a hug and she laughed, before she was passed to George.
"We missed you," they both grinned at her as she stepped back.
"I missed you too," she said honestly. Their eyes caught the pups and they widened slightly, before narrowing in intimidation.
"So, which one is Seth?" Fred asked.
"Neither," she rolled her eyes, "stop trying to scare the pups."
"Pups?" they questioned, tilting their heads to the side and looking confused.
"Yes, pups, this is Collin and Brady, they're thirteen." They blinked.
"You sure?" George questioned and she nodded. "If they look like that and they're thirteen, I can't even imagine what this Seth looks like," he spoke, obviously referring to their size.
"Yes, they're thirteen, once they phase their bodies transform to their physical peak, so whilst they may look to be in their late teens, maybe early twenties, they're only thirteen. Seeing as they are so young, they're smaller than the rest of the pack, so they may get bigger as they age. Seth's six-foot-one, and has more muscle than the pups, and he's almost seventeen."
"Is it too early to start the cradle robber jokes?" Fred asked his twin, who smirked in reply.
Hermione glared at them. "Don't even think about it, the only reason you're still walking is because the pups are here and I don't want them witnessing what I'm going to do to you for that stunt you pulled."
They laughed nervously and gulped.
"So boys, how about a tour?" they spoke together and left before they could answer.
Hermione's mouth twitched in victory.
"I like them, they're cool," Brady grinned, leaving the shop with an overflowing bag in his arms, of which were filled with products Hermione said were only to be used on the pack or Harry and The Weasleys, if she ever allowed them to visit. They agreed and Fred and George refused to take payment, making Hermione scowl, so the pups each left with a bag of free goodies.
"Me too," Collin agreed.
"They're a pain and they're hard work, but their good men and they have good hearts," she told them. She spotted the Magical Menagerie and with a smile she pulled Collin and Brady in that direction.
"Where are we going, Hermione?" Brady asked.
"Well, I've been thinking for some time now that I need an owl, I can't keep relying on Terrence or Crystal since they only come when they have a letter for me."
By the time she left the shop, she had an owl cage shrunken down and a bag of goodies for her new owl, placed in her pocket whilst the owl itself perched on her shoulder.
She had purchased a beautiful snowy owl with snow white feathers and indigo coloured eyes. The owl had taken an immediate shine to her, hooting to get her attention and it nipped at her finger affectionately when she approached it.
The sales assistant was about to warn her that the owl was particularly vicious and didn't care for anyone, usually attacking those that got too close. When she saw the owl's reaction to Hermione, the sales assistant all but begged her to take the "little demon" and Hermione wasn't going to say no, she had fallen in love the moment she had seen it.
And the owl wasn't vicious, he was a good judge of character, just like her Crookshanks had been.
"What should we call him, pups?" she asked, as they walked down the alley which was slowly beginning to empty since night was approaching and shops would soon be closing.
"Benny?" Collin offered and the owl hooted in disapproval.
"Max?" Brady suggested. Once again the owl hooted, looking affronted at suggestion.
They continued for a few minutes unsuccessfully – Milo, Conan, Pluto, Hunter, Marshall, Finley, to name a few, but the owl hooted them off.
"How about Shadow?" Brady asked, after looking down at the ground and catching their shadows in the setting sun. The owl didn't hoot, instead, he titled his head to the side as if contemplating the name.
"Shadow?" Hermione repeated and this time he hooted and rubbed his head against her cheek. She chuckled and reached up to pet his head. "Shadow it is," the boys beamed. "I'm hungry, pups?"
They nodded sheepishly and she chuckled. "I know the perfect place for dinner and if we hurry, we can make Honeydukes before closing."
"What's Honeydukes?" Collin asked.
"You'll see," Hermione smiled.
"This is my favourite place in the world," Brady whispered, his eyes darting about the shelves filled with boxes and jars of Wizarding confectionary.
"Mine too," Hermione nodded. "Have a look around, if there's anything you're not sure of, just let me know. I have a few things to locate."
Luckily they had found everything they wished too as the owner kicked them out half an hour later, their arms carrying several bags, which Hermione shrunk down and placed into her pocket.
She led them to The Three Broomsticks, which was fairly quietly for a Friday, but she supposed it was still early evening. She left the pups and Shadow at a corner table and headed to the bar.
"Hermione!" Rosemerta greeted warmly and she leaned over the bar to hug her.
"It's good to see you Rosie," Hermione smiled.
"You've been gone far too long, you must visit me more often. I hear you moved, not that I blame you, I refuse to serve Mr Weasley or Miss Brown."
"You don't have to do that," Hermione responded.
"Us women have got to stick together," she winked at her. "So what can I get you and where did you move to?"
"I would like three butter beers, a chicken and rice and two lamb and roast potatoes please."
"Coming right up," she smiled.
"I moved to America."
"Some place nice?"
"Not as far as the weather goes, similar to here in fact which I suppose makes it feel more like home. The people I've surrounded myself with, they're kind and friendly."
"Have you gotten yourself a boyfriend?" she eyed up the pups in the back corner with the owl.
"That's Collin and Brady, they're thirteen, I know, good genetics," Hermione shrugged when her eyes widened. "And yes, I do have a boyfriend now."
"Handsome?"
"Yes. His eyes are a killer," she sighed and Rosemerta laughed at her.
"His name?"
"Seth."
"Age?"
"Almost seventeen."
"Muggle?"
"Not exactly."
That earned her a raised eyebrow,
"Wizard?"
"No."
"My, my, interesting," Rosemerta said with a thoughtful frown. "How's he treat you?"
"Better than I deserve. He's just... perfect."
Rosemerta smiled. "You love him," she stated.
"I do, I don't know what I'd do without him, he's my saviour."
"Well, you must bring your saviour to meet me one day."
"I will, I promise."
Rosemerta handed over the butter beers and the meals would be brought over when they were cooked. "Before I forget, can I get two crates of butter beer and a crate of fire whiskey to go, as well as a few meals that will last a couple of weeks?"
"Still can't cook?" she asked amused.
"My fire detection alarms are still fully functional." Rosemerta laughed at Hermione and she headed back to the pups.
"What is this stuff?" Collin asked, picking up the butter beer and smelling it.
"Butter beer, a classic Wizarding drink. And don't worry, you're allowed to drink it, most thirteen year olds have their first here, it's tradition." She shrugged.
"It's nice, but weird," Brady frowned after taking a sip.
"Warming you up from the inside?" they nodded. "It's supposed to do that. Now, we'll eat our dinner, but I'm afraid we'll have to head back afterwards." They looked disappointed. "Don't worry, my little pups, we'll visit again soon."
