Chapter 23

Hope decided that if she was gonna do this, she had to do it. Alone. All on her own. I stayed close by for support. She took Harmione by the hand and pulled her into the living room. She slowly sat Harmione down on the couch.

"Harmione...I know that what Daddy showed you and told you is strange to you...and a little scary because you don't understand but-"

"I understand, Daddy's a superhero!"

I smiled at the doorway.

"That's right he is...but Mommy has a secret too."

Harmione took Hope's hand and moved her arm around. She then looked under her sleeve.

"Where's your watch Momma?"

"No sweetie...Mommy doesn't have a watch...I don't need one, There are things I can do without it."

"I want to see!" Harmione shouted in excitement.

"Well...Harmione, I use magic...some people call it mana, but I call it magical energy."

"Show me! Show me! Show me!" Harmione pleaded.

"Before I do, know that I won't hurt you."

"I'm not a scared no more Mommy."

Hope smiled shyly.

"Okay, give me your hand."

Harmione held tight to Hope's hand.

"Close your eyes."

Harmione did as she was told.

"Now...do you remember the pizza place...I want you to think about that."

Harmione shut her eyes tighter.

"The things I can do...you can do."

"Really?!" Harmione exclaimed and opened her eyes.

"Keep your eyes closed baby...and yes...you can...you can manipulate the energy around you."

"What's manipulate mean Mommy?"

"It means you can feel and control."

Harmione only nodded.

"You felt a lot that day, that it overwhelmed you...but I want you to picture in your mind a flame."

"Like fire Mommy?"

"Yes sweetheart...and I want you to imagine it's warmth in your hand...focus on your hand."

I watched from afar and noticed a pink orb of light coming from in between their hands. Hope let go slowly and the orb stayed in Harmione's hand.

"I feel it Mommy!" She shouted.

"Open your eyes."

Harmione gasped as she opened her eyes and stared at the orb.

"Focusing and using the energy you can do all sorts of things."

Hope snapped her fingers and a pink orb appeared in her hand and floated just above her palm. She balled her fist and the orb vanished. She reached out to Harmione and waved her hand over hers. The orb disappeared.

"Again!" Harmione cried.

"At your age I couldn't handle all of the energy at once...it was hard to maintain...and control..instead I sealed off my magic."

Hope stood and walked over to a China cabinet. She opened a drawer and began to look through it.

"My father...your grandpa gave me this..."

Hope took out a bag and gave it to Harmione.

"I want you to have it...and Harmione Kay...I want you to practice focusing anytime you get the chance."

Harmione looked up at her.

"How did we get this way Mommy?"

"That's a story for another time...I just want you to know how special you really are...and how loved..."

"I love you Mommy."

Harmione dropped the bag and hugged Hope around the neck.

"I love you too baby girl...and if you have any questions you ask me okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

"Give me a kiss."

Harmione pecks Hope's lips. Hope squeezes her tightly. I entered with my hands in my hoodies' pockets.

"I know this is a huge thing for you and it's been crazy but we'll get through it together...and don't you worry baby girl, your Daddy and I will be there for you...always."

I watched Harmione hug Hope tighter. I think she finally understood. Or at least grasped what we were trying to tell her. She was still too little to understand. Though she could start training her powers early, and she didn't have to be afraid now that she knew what was going on. It was going to take time. A lot of time for her to fully recognize who and what she is. Hope placed her hand on the back of Harmione's head. She swayed with her and kissed her cheek. I sighed heavily at the sight of them. When I saved Hope so many years ago I thought to myself then, that my life was about to change. Now looking at Harmione, I felt my life about to change again. I came home one afternoon and found Hope and Harmione in the backyard. Hope started teaching her how to invest her powers into the contents of the bag.

"Now Harmione...I call these my eggs...or totems...you can call them whatever you want."

Hope takes a small stone with a pink design out of the bag and shows it to Harmione.

"You can use these for all sorts of things like magic powder, rock creatures, or even explosives."

Harmione's smile lit up as Hope spoke.

"Can I try Mommy?"

"Of course sweetie...just be careful."

Harmione reached into the bag and pulled out a stone. Hope held her from behind, grasped her hand tightly and kneeled down.

"I want you to feel the energy as you did before..."

"Okay Momma."

"And when you feel it...Ease your hand back slowly..."

Gently, Hope pulled Harmione's arm back.

"And let go..." Hope whispered sweetly, and together she and Harmione threw the totem across the yard. Hope hugged Harmione from behind as a small rock like creature appeared before them.

"He's yours Harmione."

The rock creature placed its limbs upon the ground and walked on all fours. It had a magenta aura about it. Harmione's smile grew to a laugh and she made a dash for the creature. The rock creature manifested into a small like puppy and it made a swift run toward Harmione. Hope stood and smiled, placing her hands in her back pockets of her skinny jeans. Her white long curls draped across her chest, covering her very prominent breasts. Hope had gained quite a bit of weight with Harmione and while some of the weight is gone, it was as if a lot of it went to her chest area. She stood proudly as she watched Harmione play with the stone creature. The two played for hours even when it was too dark too see. The rock creature allowed Harmione to ride him up, down, and around the backyard. After dinner, Harmione went to bed and the rock creature slept soundly at her feet. She also decided to name him; Juju.

The rock creature itself is different than that of the creatures Hope used to summon. It resembles that of a dachshund. It's creepy I guess but sweet at the same time. After Harmione's 5th birthday I knew by the time she started school it would be hard to separate the two. Hope worked day and night to finally come up with a solution for that.

Hope put an enchantment on Juju. A powerful spell that allowed Juju to stay in tack despite any hard trauma or force upon his body. He stayed whole and never chipped or cracked. To ease Harmione's mind and heart she gave her a necklace. A special necklace to keep Juju in, when they were in public. All Harmione would have to do would be to hold up the necklace and call out Juju's name. He would then reappear to her. This way they could no longer be separated. Harmione was growing up faster than I could blink. After giving her the necklace Hope's energy seemed drained for a few days. I tried my best to take care of her. What a woman she is. Also in that time we learned that Gwen and Kevin were expecting and we were ecstatic for them. Then, finally the time came; a time I dreaded. The time to drop Harmione off for Kindergarten.

Harmione understood full well that her powers were still developing and she needed to keep it a secret. Of all things she didn't understand that day was why I had to leave her with total strangers. I parked the car and held her hand through the school building. She held tight to the necklace around her neck and her bright purple backpack. She was still small and the backpack looked bigger than she was. I was so nervous but tried to be strong for my little princess. We walked down a long hallway together. Every teacher had their door decorated. Harmione's teacher had a jungle theme on her door.

"Okay baby girl..."

I knocked on the classroom door and a woman with voluminous blonde hair and bangs stepped out.

"Hello there, I'm Mrs. Brunner." She exclaimed, with a set of pearly whites under a bright shade of red lipstick.

"Hi..." I replied softly. "Say hi baby."

Harmione hid behind my leg and shyly stuck her head out.

"Hi..." She replied back. She sounded just like me.

"Hello...oh what a pretty necklace...what's your name Angel?"

Mrs. Brunner squatted and looked at Harmione. I relished in the fact she used the term 'Angel.' As Harmione hears me call her mother that at least 100 times a day. I don't know it comforted me to think that maybe Harmione would be a little less nervous because of it.

"My name is Harmione Kay Tennyson." Harmione spoke out proudly. "It's my first day."

"Aren't you cute?!" Mrs. Brunner responded back. "You're a very brave girl Miss Tennyson...do you want to come in now, and let Daddy get going?"

I felt Harmione's grip tighten in my hand.

"Well...when you're ready...there's lots of kids in here waiting to learn and play with you."

"Thank you." I told her as she entered the classroom. I kneeled down near Harmione and touched her shoulders.

"Remember what Mommy and I told you...be the best Harmione you can be."

"Okay Daddy..."

I saw the tears beginning to form in her eyes. She had been so strong all this time.

"You're so loved Princess..."

Harmione blinked and the tears rolled.

"Daddy...Daddy has to go now...but I'll be back to get you...I promise." I began to choke up myself.

"Daddy..."

She stroked the side of my face.

"Come here." I stated with tears in my own eyes.

I pulled her close into a hug. Then I stood up with her holding her tightly. She sniffled into my shoulder.

"I love you Daddy." I heard her say through her tears.

"And I love you too..."

I kissed the side of her head and put her down.

"Have a good day...Angel." I told her gently and pulled her hair behind her ear.

"Daddy?"

"What baby?"

"I...I'll miss you." She squeaked. She could barely talk.

"I'll miss you too..."

I puckered my lips and she pecked them. I wiped her tears away as more formulated in her eyes. My heart began to bleed. I wanted to scoop her up and run.

"Have a good day..." I repeated and held her hands tightly. Her mouth trembled. There was no noise. She stood silent as the tears glittered in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. I kissed the top of her head and walked away. It was among one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. As I reached the car I heard a small frail voice call to me in the parking lot.

"Daddy!" She cried out.

"Har..." I breathed. I met her halfway as she ran to me. I picked her up and she hugged me around the neck. I held her tight. Squeezing her.

"I...I wanted to...to...I wanted to show you something." She blubbered.

"What baby...what?"

She pulled away from the hug and rolled up her sleeve. She had on a beaded bracelett with a sticker colored out of the lines in green marker. It looked just like my Omnitrix.

"It's hero time, Daddy."

I couldn't cry but I did. I sniffled and just held her tighter.

"Yeah...it is." Was all I could say. I walked her back to class. She went on in without any problems. The crying mess was me. It truly was Hero time. With her mother's soul and my heart...she truly was the bravest hero I'd ever seen.