Hello guys!
Long time no see! I am here to bring you chapter two.
Might as well, seeing as we are stuck indoors for the time being and this lovely chapter is just sitting in my drive without anyone to read it ;D.
Hope you enjoy and as always please let me know what you think by leaving a review.
Chapter 2 - Back Again
"I'm so sorry Fleur, she's, she's, she's gone," Harry struggles to say as he sits in his best friend's home. Her wife sitting across from him.
"Non, she's out zere 'arry, she'll come back," Fleur tries to reason. She couldn't allow herself to fall into despair. For the sake of her child. For her beloved, for herself.
"We've done all we can Fleur, I'm so sorry," Harry struggles out, as the tears freely cascade down his face. He's lost so many people to the war. But they'd done it, Voldemort was gone. They had achieved peace only for one of his best friends to be lost in an accident. They should have never tried to tamper with the time turners. How could they have known something done to help maintain everlasting peace would bring such grief and ruin.
"She'll come back, 'Arry please," Fleur says, as her tears fall. This was really it, she'd hoped that her beloved would be recovered. But as the months had gone by there was no sign of Hermione. The ministry and Harry's head strong efforts had all proven to be in vain. Hermione was lost in time, but she still felt her. Their connection was still there, she just needed to wait. She'd come back to them.
"I'm so sorry Fleur, I wish there was a way to bring her back, to find out what happened to her, she may reappear in the future or the past, but there's no way to be sure," Harry tries to calm the older witch, it broke his heart. They were all finally at peace, they were supposed to be happy, start their families. Hermione had a little one on the way. Fleur was so close to her delivery date.
"S-she'll come back, she 'as too," Fleur openly sobbs. The tears felt like torrents on her cheeks. They fell freely now.
"I'm so sorry," Harry soothed getting up from his seated position across from Fleur and taking a seat beside her. Wrapping the older witch in a side hug, he pulls her to him and lets her cling to him as she cries. He had to be strong, he'd do all he could to take care of his best mates wife and child. He'd tell her little girl all about her brave mum and what she fought for. To help make the world a safer world for everyone.
—- x - - —-
"Are the boys up yet?" Harry asks as he walks into his kitchen in Godric's Hollow. After the war he'd fixed up his parents dilapidated home and moved in with Ginny when they'd married. They now had three children of their own. James Sirius a boy of 7, Albus Severus a boy of 5, and Lily Luna a little girl of 4.
Today was his day off and he was hoping to take his family to Diagon Alley for a bit of shopping, his boys had been asking him for training brooms and he was more than happy to comply. Soon after they'd drop the kids at Andromeda Tonks' while they went to have brunch with Ron and Fleur.
His wife turned to look at him with a smile when a sudden pop put them both on the alert. Drawing their wands they pointed them in the direction the pop had sounded off, the living room.
"Arry? Ginny?" The panicked voice of Fleur made them put their wands back in their pockets. Walking into the living room, they were met with a disheveled woman.
"Fleur are you well?" Ginny said springing into action and moving forward towards the older witch. Placing her arms on the woman's shoulders. Harry behind his wife.
"Victorie 'as gone missing," the older witch informs. Distress evident on her features.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, alarmed. Victorie was a calm child, had someone taken her. Dread engulfed him.
"She found out about 'Ermione, Dominique over'ered William and I discussing telling Victorie about her parentage," Fleur explained.
"You still haven't told her ?" Ginny said perplexed, she couldn't understand why her older brother refused to tell the little girl about her mum. Hermione had been a great friend to them all, to keep her child from knowing about her was an affront.
"Non, William 'e does not like it, sees no point, but she deserved to know, just not like zis," Fleur choked out, a few tears falling from her eyes.
"S-she apparated," Fleur choked out.
"We'll find her," Harry assures, Ginny nodding beside him.
"I'll take the kids to mum and dad's and start with her favorite shops," Ginny assures. She'd have several words with her older brother after they found her niece. She'd not let this stand, it was an insult to Hermione's memory.
Nodding Harry handed his handkerchief to Fleur, "We'll find her, she can't have gone far," Harry assured. He'd check her favorite parks and her favorite trees to sit under on those hot summer days they'd all go to unwind and enjoy the day.
"I've alerted mai parents, they'll look around ze places they've taken 'Er when we visit," Fleur informed, wiping the tears with the offered handkerchief. "Zere is one place she 'as never been, but it wouldn't 'urt to look," Fleur informed.
Harry looked at her quizzicaly, "where would that be?"
"Our old 'ome in Llanwrtyd," Fleur informed, recognition dawning in Harry's eyes.
"Worth a look," he reasoned, "I'll Floo Ron, we can cover more ground that way," he informed as he gave her a reassuring hug, took a step back and went to their Floo.
With a nod the witch apparated away. It'd been almost 10 years since she'd last stepped into her old home, but it was worth a look.
—- x —-
"Mum!" Victorie exclaimed as she clung to the older bushy haired witch.
"Umm, sweetie, have you lost your way," Hermione asked, as she stared down at the little girl clinging to her waist.
"No, you're my mum," the little girl said with absolute certainty.
Hermione could only stare at the little girl that looked like an exact copy of her wife. Was this a joke or a dream? The last thing she remembered was an explosion and then she was transported to her home. Only this didn't look quite like her home. The home before her looked uninhabited and cold. The garden untended too and dust had gathered. Almost like it hadn't been lived in for years.
She was about to ask the little girl who her parents were when a sudden pop made her draw her wand out. Pointing it forward and pushing the little girl behind her, she noticed that it was her wife, or rather an older version of her wife. The woman stared at her in shock as she held her hands to her lips and rushed to her. Engulfing her in her arms and sobbing into her shoulder. Hermione was too transfixed on the woman before her to react. The little girl between them grabbing both of their attentions after several moments of the older blonde crying into Hermione.
"Mummy you're crushing me," the little girl exclaimed causing both witches to pull apart and stare at the little girl, giving her room to breath.
"Y-you're back," Fleur sobbed as she grabbed a hold of Hermione's shoulders.
"Fleur?" Hermione questioned, was this really her wife, she certainly smelled like her and looked like her, but she was older. And she wasn't pregnant, what was going on!?
"Oui ma Cherie," Fleur sobbed out.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, a sudden pop grabbing both of their attentions as Fleur was about to attempt to explain to her spouse? What had occurred 11 years prior.
"Fleur! Victorie! Hermione?" Harry said as he and Ron appeared before them. A second pop and Ginny appeared. The three could only stare in shock as tears started to form at the corners of their eyes.
"You're back!" Harry exclaimed, as the three took a few steps closer to the couple and their child.
"What are you talking about Harry?" Hermione asked perplexed at the looks her friends and wife were giving her. They all looked older, and the little girl with her arms wrapped around kept looking at her in wonder. Just what was going on?
"Hermione you've been-," Ginny began but was cut off by the sudden pop of another person appearing before them.
"Mum told me you'd come here," Bill said before he stopped short, he instantly paled at the sight before him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, wand drawn.
"Bill," Ron warned as he drew his wand and stood in front of his older brother's direct line of sight.
"What is she doing here," Bill asked one more, wand still in hand.
"What do you think you're doing Bill," Hermione warned as well wand drawn as she moved to stand in front of her wife, moving the child around her waist behind her.
"What do you mean what am I doing, what do you think you're doing! That's my wife and child you've got behind you," Bill fumed,voice raised. Face turning red, wand still raised.
"What!?" Hermione exclaimed incredulous at Bill's nerve.
"You heard me," Bill informed.
"Am not!" Victorie exclaimed poking her head from behind Hermione.
"Victorie Rose!" Bill tried to chastise.
Hermione's eyes went wide as she registered Bill's words. Staring at the little girl, she noticed her eye color looked exactly like hers. W-what was going on? Was this really her daughter? That couldn't be, her Victorie wasn't even born yet, she'd know she'd only just left her and Fleur a few hours prior.
The sudden appearance of a ministry howler startled all of them from their tense situation.
"The Department of Magical Law, does hereby require your immediate presence at the ministry, office number 52607. Attendance is mandatory for Mrs and Mrs Hermione and Fleur Granger and Mr William Weasley. Dismissal is non-optional and requires the most optimal of haste," the howler proceeded to tear itself to pieces soon after.
"Well I suppose we'd best get going," Harry said as the last of the Howler fell to the ground.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, she had so many questions. And now they were needed at the Ministry?
"I'll explain after this business at the ministry I promise," Harry explained as he grabbed ahold of Ginny and they apparated away. Ron likewise did the same to his frozen red faced brother.
Hermione turned to her wife and child? "Suppose we should get this ordeal sorted then you can explain to me just what is going on ?" She said with a lopsided grin.
"Oui," Fleur said before pulling Hermione in for a quick kiss.
"Fleur?" Hermione asked, that was a strange kiss, like the kind you give to someone long since gone. A longing sort.
"I needed to do zat, it's been so long," Fleur said as Hermione numbly nodded at her.
"We're going to be late," the little girl between them stated as Hermione chuckled and gathered the two in her arms, apparating them away.
—- x - - —-
"Thank you for joining me on such short notice," the ministry official said as he stood behind his desk a stack of papers on his desk.
"What is this about," Bill was the first to ask as he stood before the ministry official's desk, arms folded.
"All in due time Mr. Weasley, please take a seat," the official replied face passive.
"Umm, just what is going on Mr. Chapman?" Hermione inquired as well from her standing position beside her wife and supposed child. The official's name plaque informing her that the official was named Dodelous Chapman.
"First let me be the first one to welcome you back Mrs. Granger, from all of us at the ministry we extend our sincerest apologies for what's transpired. We hope that we can help assist you in any way as you rejoin the Wizarding world," the official said with a sincere smile.
"Thank you, but I'm sorry if I don't comprehend what's happened?" Hermione inquired. The official gave her a sad smile in turn.
"I do apologize Mrs. Granger, but you've been gone for 11 years," the official stated. The look of shock on Hermione's face widened his frown.
"What do you mean? I was just here not too long ago? The ministry was disposing of the time turners, " Hermione countered, growing pale. Fleur's beside her grabbing her arm to try to calm her down. Victorie clutching her other arm.
Bill looked at them with bitter contempt.
"I apologize Mrs. Granger but a mishap with a faulty time turner resulted in an explosion and your disappearance for the past 11 years. I say again with the sincerest condolences that we here at the ministry offer our full support as you reintegrate yourself into the Wizarding world once more," the official explained.
"I-I've been gone? 11 years ?" Hermione stuttered. Looking between her wife, her friends, the official and Bill. Victorie's increased grip on her arm brought her back from her tumultuous thoughts.
"The matter for which you were all summoned," the official continued, sitting down and taking hold of the stack of papers on his desk. "Please take a seat," he motioned as all the adults took a seat. Victorie sat herself on Fleur's lap.
"The violation of Wizarding Law number 002385, as dictated "Bonded for life, cursed be to they who would seek to tear them asunder till death do they part," a rectification is in order I believe," the official began to explain as they all tried to process the words.
"What are you implying?" Bill asked.
"My apologies Mr. Weasley which part confuses you," the official asked.
"Why did you quote my wedding vows," Bill asked, temper flaring.
"I do apologize for the confusion Mr. Weasley but you are not married ," the official clarified as he handed him a paper. A current status of marriage, the bottom line reading William A. Weasley: STATUS : Unmarried Pureblood.
"What is the meaning of this!? That's my wife sitting right there! And my child!" Bill exclaimed getting to his feet.
"I'm sorry to inform you Mr. Weasley but according to the law, it clearly states 'till death do they part' and Mrs. Hermione Granger is sitting before us, she never died, thus the law reversed all that came since her disappearance," the official further explained.
"What! She's my wife I don't care what you or the "law" says, I married her!" Bill fumed.
The ministry official calmly looked at the fuming man.
"I apologize that you feel that way Mr. Weasley but a disregard of the law is a direct violation of one of the founding pillars by which our society was founded, if you insist on its violation, I will have to take force," the official said as he drew his wand, tip glowing. "Now seeing as Aurors Potter and Weasley are with us, I will have to request their assistance in your capture if you'd like to proceed," the official stated.
Ron and Harry sitting at attention. They had not expected this, but seeing as this was a ministry official with the direct authority to require their assistance they'd have to comply. The law in violation was a grievous one, their training to become Aurors stared that any violation to a founding law would require immediate attention and cooperation from any Auror present or nearby.
With a huff Bill sat back down and fumed in his seat, "my apologies," he grumbled out.
"Lovely," the official commented as he looked at the remaining papers in front of him and read aloud. "Hereby stating Fleur Isabelle and Victorie Rose Weasley are to be now Fleur Isabelle and Victorie Rose Granger, their lawful names, a further change to the name of Dominique Apolline Weasley, to be named Dominique Apolline Delacour. As no lawful marriage took place the Ministry grants custody to the mother Mrs. Fleur Isabelle Granger,"
"What! That's my daughter!" Bill shouted, hands gripping the chair armrests, knuckles going white. His Dominique had been conceived lawfully. How dare this man claim his daughter a bastard born out of wedlock.
"Correct Mr. Weasley however you did not lawfully marry Mrs, Granger, your union never occurred according to our most ancient laws. Thus the child is unlawfully yours and we have deemed it appropriate to grant custody to Mrs. Granger the mother. If you have any concerns you'll have to submit a form and the Ministry will address it at a later date," the official explained, patience growing thin at the man that kept interrupting him.
"Effective immediately the ministry is requesting the removal of Mrs. Fleur Isabelle Granger and her daughters Victorie Rose Granger and Dominique Apolline Delacour from the premises of Shell Cottage, as it is in direct violation of Wizarding Law 002385-2. Unlawful Cohabitation. The ministry will provide assistance in the appropriate placement of all parties involved," the official finished with a wave of his wand.
Five tall Aurors appeared before them. Arms folded behind their backs.
"Please escort Mrs. Fleur Granger and her child to their current residence, Assist them with their relocation as well as that of Dominique Apolline Delacour," the official instructed as he motioned towards the Aurrors.
Taking hold of the papers before him he made quick work of placing them into a large envelope. "Here are the remaining documentation, pertaining to the children's custody and your marriage. You will also find an additional notice of compensation that you may bring to Gringotts at your earliest convenience. It's the least the Ministry can do to compensate you for the time lost," the official finished explaining, envelope in hand.
Moving forward Hermione took the offered envelope and held it in her hands for a few moments, taking that brief time to gather herself. This was a lot to process. Her wife was married to someone else? Custody of her child and another? She had many questions. But for now they would have to wait.
"We'd best get going then," she finally said turning to her family and friends.
—- - -x - - - —
"I can't believe you're just letting this happen," Bill grumbled as he sat on his marriage bed. The bed that he and his wife shared in their room in their house!
"What did 'ou want me to say William," Fleur replied exasperatedly as she walked about the room waving her wand, her things going back and forth into waiting suitcases. A shrinking spell in place to help speed up the process. They'd been able to ask for a moment to talk while Fleur packed, much to reluctance of the Auror standing outside their door. The other four helping Victorie pack her things and keeping guard over Hermione who had promptly sat herself on their living room couch upon arrival to Shell Cottage. Harry, Ron had immediately sat at her sides, with Ginny going with Victorie to help her pack her things.
"Tell them that I'm your husband! They're breaking our family apart Fleur, and you don't care, now that you have your precious Hermione! Wish she'd done us all a favor and stayed gone," Bill fumed as Fleur quickly turned her attention to him at his words, walked up to him and promptly slapped him.
"How. Dare. 'Ou." Fleur fumed as she stared at the man that used to be her husband.
"How dare I? How dare you! You made a vow to me Fleur, till death do us part! Hermione was gone. Gone! And she left you with a babe in your belly, you needed her and she wasn't there! I was! I raised Victorie like she was my own, I've been here!" Bill shouted.
The Auror standing guard upon hearing the shouting rushed into the room wand raised. "Is this man giving you any trouble Mrs. Granger."
"Non, I've just finished," Fleur answered. Leveling her former husband with a disappointed stare.
"I don't 'ave to be told how much damage I've caused, I am aware William, I'm sorry for the 'eartache I've put 'ou through, but I 'ave to keep moving forward," Fleur said a lone tear falling down her left cheek. And with that she waved her wand and her luggages shrunk and were placed into her pocket.
—x —-
"It's really been 11 years Harry," Hermione stated more than asked. Seeing as that's all anyone would tell her. In the past few hours.
"Umm, well yes, it has, but what's important is that you're with us now Hermione," Harry said placing his hand on hers. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect his best friend to come back to them. But what a mess it was with the girls and Bill now. He could only hope that it would all sort itself out in the end.
"My little Victorie's 11 now I gather?" Hermione asked, the two boys, no men but they would always be boys to her, her boys.
"She is, just got her Hogwarts letter, she's so excited," Harry answered, giving Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Not much of a flyer though, but we'll make a quidditch player out of her yet, Bill's been -," Ron began to say but stopped short as he realized he'd mentioned the elephant in the room.
"Ah yes, Bill, he married Fleur," Hermione said with uncertainty her heart clenching at the words. It'd been hard to hear that her wife had married Bill in her absence, but she couldn't fault her for it. She was gone for 11 years, it wouldn't be fair to hold that against her. She deserved to be happy.
"He did, but it wasn't an easy thing for Fleur to do," Harry tried to explain, he and Ron knew that Fleur hadn't been in love with Bill when she'd agreed to marry him. She probably wasn't even in love with him now, but she'd needed help and she had Victorie to look after. Bill was a means to an end.
"That's right! She never stopped hoping 'Mione," Ron agreed.
"We're just happy you're back," Harry stated. Eyes growing misty. Ron nodding beside him.
"Thank you, I just have to get my bearings in check and I'll be alright," Hermione replied. Her friends nodding and engulfing her in a hug.
"We'll do all we can to help," Harry assured.
The three stayed that way until the sound of footsteps alerted them to someone else's presence.
"All packed Fleur?" Harry asked. As he looked up at the blonde, somber smile on her face.
"Oui," Fleur responded, Auror beside her and Bill coming up behind. He didn't look the happiest.
"Finished!" Victorie's exuberantly shouted as she walked into the living room, Ginny and the Auror in tow.
"Ave you got Dominque's zings?" Fleur asked her sister in law, was she that anymore, now that she wasn't married to Bill? However she was married to Harry and he was like a brother to her wife so technically she was still her sister in law.
"Got it all right here," Ginny said holding up a small bag.
"Extendable charm Gin?" Hermione asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Learned from the best," Ginny replied with a wink.
"If that's everything, we'll escort you to the Weasley's was it? To collect your daughter Mrs. Granger," the Auror beside Fleur spoke up.
"Zank 'ou," Fleur said as the Auror in turn nodded and signaled for the other Aurors present to take ahold of their respective charge.
A pop later and they were gone.
— x —
"What is the meaning of this!" Molly Weasley exclaimed as ministry Aurors and her children walked into her home.
"Hermione!" She exclaimed once more as she rushed at the woman in question. Enveloping her into a hug.
"We thought you would never come back! Thank Merlin you're safe!" The Weasley matriarch exclaimed as she held the young woman.
"I'm glad to be back Molly," Hermione said as she returned Mrs. Weasley's embrace.
"But why are there ministry Aurors with you all?" Molly asked pulling back from the hug.
"It would seem that since Hermione came back, ze Wizarding Law reversed my marriage to William," Fleur tried to explain.
"We're here to collect the child ma'am," The Auror beside Fleur spoke up.
"B-but What is the meaning of this! You're trying to take Dominique from her father and mother? That's unfounded!" Molly defended.
"Mum, since Hermione came back her union to Fleur was never ended. So the law reversed anything that happened while she was gone. Dominique unfortunately fell through the crack, she's to be given to Fleur for the time being, and they'll be moving back to their old home," Ginny tried to reason.
"But that's not-" Molly tried to argue back.
"It's a violation of one of the founding Wizarding Laws Mum, there's nothing that can be done," Ginny said with finality.
Taking a few moments to stare at her daughter in disbelief, the Weasley matriarch took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'll go get her," she said as she walked up the stairs to get the little girl.
"Mummy, is Domie going to be ok?" Victorie said walking up to Fleur. In her excitement she hadn't stopped to think how this would affect her younger sister.
"I 'ope so ma petite," Fleur replied, as her eldest wrapped her arms around her waist. She was glad for the comfort. She knew she and Hermione would be having a long conversation after all of this.
Several minutes later the sound of footsteps could be heard as Molly Weasley returned with Dominique in tow.
"Mum, Dad? What's going on?" The young girl asked as she saw the adults and Aurors present.
"We're," Fleur started to say but was cut off by Bill.
"You're going to live with your mum and her wife," Bill gripped out.
"What?" The little girl said looking between both of her parents
Trying to salvage the situation Victorie spoke up, "We'll be having a long sleepover at my mum's," she walked towards her younger sister but the younger girl ran to her father instead.
"I want to stay with dad!" She exclaimed latching herself to Bill.
"Dominique," Fleur tried to soothe, it was breaking her heart to see her youngest like this.
"Y-you're married to dad! I-I just want to go home!" The girl wailed, tears falling freely down her cheeks.
"Sweetie, you need to come with your mum," Ginny spoke up trying to coax the girl over before the Aurors got involved.
"B-but," the little girl stammered out bottom lip trembling.
"It's going to be ok Domie, I'll be with you soon," Bill assured to everyone's surprise.
"I promised I'll make everything better again," he continued to assure as he removed the child from his person.
"P-promise?" The little girl asked.
"Promise," Bill assured holding out his pinkie to assure the young girl.
"I'll make it right I promise," he spoke up looking over at Victorie, who only grimaced at him in turn, a slight scrunch of the nose a trait she'd gotten from Hermione much to his displeasure.
"This isn't over Granger," he said leveling a stern glare at Hermione, who only stared back at him defiantly. She would not allow herself to be threatened.
"Go to your mum," Bill instructed as Dominique reluctantly nodded and walked over to Fleur.
Taking a hold of her daughter Fleur looked one more time at Bill as he glared at her wife.
"I'm really sorry for all of zis," Fleur apologized looking at Mrs. Weasley.
The older woman sadly nodded at her somewhat understanding.
They bid their goodbyes and aparated away leaving behind their friends.
Their destination the old home that stood uninhabited in Llanwrtyd.
-x -
And thats all folks! Hope you all enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please feel free to let me know what you think by leaving a review.
Hope you see you guys soon!
-CatSnidget009