Here is a new chapter. I am sorry for the delay, at the beginning of the lockdown, about a month ago where I live in Europe, I thought that it would be the perfect moment to post more but truth be told I had, still am, facing a sort of mental blockage. The news have been so dreadful all around the world that I just could not post. I do really hope that all of you are safe.

elljayde welcome :)

paola. radonic96gmail .com welcome :)

terrak888 welcome :)

harryloverpotter22 welcome:)

weasley . shenanigans welcome :)

Amd finally sarahann02 welcome :)

This chapter has not been beta-ed and I am still looking for another beta so if there is any volunteer please send me a PM.

I hope you will like this chapter.

Xx

...

Wednesday 17th of June 1998

Hermione was waiting for the Minister, in his office. She was wondering what Kingsley wanted to tell her. It must be something important as he had sent her an owl at the burrow while she was having breakfast with the Weasleys and Harry.

A couple of weeks ago, he had told her that he had spoken with the Australian Minister and sent Aurors to Australia to find her parents and somehow Hermione was pretty sure that what he had to tell her had something to do with her parents.

Her life was so good and peaceful at the moment, it was just too good to be true.

Even if she was still preoccupied about the spell that she had used to save Fred and its consequences on their future together, Hermione had not been that happy in such a long time so she knew that at some point, she would have to cope with bad news again.

Loosing her parents, it would be terrible but it would not totally destroyed her, not with Fred by her side.

She was feeling loved and not just by Fred. Andromeda, Harry, Ginny, Luna and the Weasleys would help her, she would not have to face it alone.

And after all, it was not as if she had not played the scene a hundredth times in her head, Kingsley announcing her that the Aurors had found her parents, well their bodies. She had been preparing herself for this announcement since the day that kingsley had told her that Death Eaters had been looking for her parents, in Australia, maybe even before...

She sighed and looked at her watch, it was almost 1pm. She had been waiting for thirty minutes already, waiting was making her nervous besides Kingsley was never late.

She wished that she had Fred's diary with her, reading few pages would have helped her to relax. Well relax was not really the right term as each page was arousing her a bit more. Fred had really written his deepest thoughts into his little black book which included a lot of sexual content and Hermione could not stop wondering if she was really going to feel what Fred had described in his writings.

She had almost finished her reading and the closer she was coming to the end, the more intriguing and exciting it was becoming.

She had dared to ask Fred few questions. He had answered vaguely, with his mischievous smirk on his face as a bonus, that it would feel even better when they would do it for real.

And curiously all this was helping her to feel, more confident because she had got the proof that Fred really desired her physically as well.

...

She shook her head, how could she be thinking about something that silly as Fred's little black book or how pleasurable it would be to have sex when she was about to receive a very dreadful notice.

What is wrong with me, she thought horrified

...

...

Few minutes later,

She was getting tired of waiting but she could not live Kingsley office, his owl was clear, she had to wait for him. She was trying to think about something joyful, just joyful but it was not an easy task. However, she did let herself imagine what it would be to occupy this office, one day. Fred was calling her often Mrs the Minister of Magic and she kind of loved it. Becoming the Minister of Magic was such a wonderful goal and she had decided to secretly keep it in her mind.

...

...

About twenty minutes later Kingsley finally stepped into his office. He was looking serious and annoyed. Hermione told him that she could come back later. As Kingsley was spending a lot of time with Andromeda and baby Teddy at Grimmauld Place, Hermione and Harry were learning more and more about Kingsley and they were no longer seeing him as just a great Auror, a member of the Order or the Minister of Magic so it was becoming easy for them to break the ice with him.

Kingsley shook his head and told her to take a sit. She obeyed without saying a word, her blood temperature had dropped and her hands were as cold as ice. She was scared and wished, again, that Fred was with her to hear the news...

...

...

As she was leaving the Minister's office, she was smiling. She could not believe her luck. Her mother was alive and healthy. They had found her in Melbourne. She had been tortured by the Death Eaters but Hermione' spell had been really efficient. She had no memories of her beloved daughter. It should have affected her but Hermione did not care, her mother was alive and safe and that was beyond what she could have ever imagined.

As soon as her mother would have recovered her memories, she would be able to travel back to the UK. Hermione wanted to go to Australia to see her mother but Kingsley had informed her that it was impossible. Indeed, her mother had to remember Hermione before to see her, it was essential and the only way to erase all the traces of the memory spell that Hermione had used.

Kingsley had added that the memories of the heart had to be stronger than the memories of the brain. Hermione was not sure to have clearly understood all the meanings of this line but she had got the general idea. She was not worried, not even the slightest, her mother's heart would never forget about her, no spell was strong enough to break a mother's love.

However, there was a dark line into this happiness. The Aurors had not found her father yet. Kingsley was optimistic and said that the chance to find him alive were very high.

Hermione had thanked Kingsley and had done something that she had never done before, she had hugged Kingsley. Kingsley, surprised at first, had smiled and wrapped his arms around the young witch. Thanks to Andromeda, he was growing closer to Harry and Hermione and he could not wait to have dinner with the little family at Grimmauld Place on Friday evening.

He had forbidden himself to think further but a part of him wanted to get back with the woman that he was still thinking about as the love of his life. They could become a family, all together. Andromeda was already considering Hermione and Harry as her children, sort of, and Kingsley would loved to get as close as she was to the two young adults.

He was not too old to become a father but Andromeda was already a grandmother and he seriously doubted that she would ever consider having another child at almost 45.

He sighed and let Hermione go. Thoughtful, he watched her lived his office. Yes, he wanted to have a family, this family.

...

...

Hermione left the Ministry with a big smile on her face. Her mother was alive, she was missing her so much. She could not wait to have her back but she had to be patient. Kingsley had warned her, her mother could need months to recover her memories but again that did not matter.

She ran to the twins' shop, she could not wait to share the good news with Fred.

Later, she would share it with Harry and Andromeda. Nevertheless, she was afraid to tell them. During the war, they had lost everything they had. It was hard to say whom had lost more, Harry or Andromeda.

Hermione was starting, again, to feel bad about her luck. Life was unfair and she was hoping that she would not have to pay any price for those lucky days.

...

...

In the meantime,

Percy had just finished his lunch with his father, brothers, except the twins who were at their shop, and Harry when he finally found the courage to go to see Kingsley to complete his mission. He was the one in charge to get the dossier about the spell that Hermione had used and its order of illegality.

Fred had insisted that it had to be Percy and not his girlfriend. He had lied about his real motives and said that it would be too suspicious when he was just afraid that Hermione could find something that would put in jeopardy their relationship.

He had used a pitiful excuse but curiously nobody had disagreed. He had said that Hermione was not a real employee of the Ministry and less one of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement yet so it was too risky for her to investigate.

Kingsley would ask her why she needed to go to the archives of the department or worst as he could insist to escort her. Percy had to consult the archives so often that he just had to ask for the keys, nobody would find it dubious.

Nevertheless, Percy was nervous. He was not good at lying or breaking the rules even if he was not going to break any but still he was feeling bad. Why was he the only Weasley who had got that gene.

He had been postponing his mission for few days now but he knew that he could not delay it any longer as Hermione and Fred were becoming impatient. The day before, Hermione had mentioned several times that she could do it herself, if Percy could not get over his goody two shoes attitude.

An angry and worried Fred had cornered his brother and told him that it had to be done before the end of the week or he would find a way to get that bloody paper on his own, well with George's help of course. Again, Fred had insisted, Hermione could not be the one finding out first. Percy had never been scared of Fred or George but he did fear their anger and that was precisely why he was walking towards the Minister's office.

...

Percy was in front of Kingsley's office, the door was closed as always. He was not even sure if Kingsley was inside or not, maybe he would be lucky and find no one behind that door. He shook his head, he had to be braver, he was a Gryffindor not a wimp. He knocked at the door and waited patiently for Kingsley to say come in.

Percy was so nervous that when he heard the two words, he did not know if he had really heard them or if he had imagined it. Besides, he was pretty sure to have recognized Hermione's messy braid coming out of Kingsley's office as he was stepping out of the elevator and that was confusing him a bit more.

« Come in. » screamed Kingsley

This time Percy knew that he was not dreaming. He took a deep breath and open the door. As soon as he had stepped into the room, he had started to sweat, his hands were all sweaty and he did not like the sensation.

Kingsley's eyes narrowed. He offered a chair to Percy and asked to what did he owe a visit.

Percy repeated exactly what he had been preparing with the twins and Hermione over the last weekend.

« So basically you just want the keys. »

Percy nodded and Kingsley chuckled

« Why did not you just say so as you always do. Here are the keys but I would like to have them back tonight if you don't mind. You know with the trials a lot of people are coming in each day so I prefer to have the keys safe in my office. I know that I can trust you but I cannot let you keep them. » explained Kingsley who did not want to sound like a teacher or worst like Mrs Weasley

Percy said that he understood and promised to return the keys before to leave the Ministry. His mind was already trying to figure out how to find the damn dossier, take it to the shop and returning the dossier and the keys before 7pm. He had not anticipated Kingsley's request, not that he could have anyway but still, he was blaming himself for not thinking further and for accepting this suicide mission. He was not like the twins or Hermione who had all graduated with an outstanding at breaking the rules...

Moreover, Hermione was always with Fred on the afternoon, how was he supposed to give the dossier to Fred if she was there.

Fred and George had promised to arrange him a date with Audrey after all this, Percy tried to focused on the lovely little witch. He wanted that date and he wanted to help his brothers and future sister in law, he could do it.

He took the keys, stood and left the office followed by Kingsley. Surprised, he asked him where he was going.

Hesitantly, the Minister shared his plans of the afternoon with the redhead.

« I have some doubts in my mind after another questioning with Yaxley and I think that I know where to get my answer. » he said calmly

« He is still not saying anything. » asked Percy who knew that Kingsley and the Aurors were getting tired of Yaxley's little game

« No, nothing concrete but today he had mentioned something very interesting. »

« About what. » asked Percy dubiously

« McGonagall's time turner. It popped again today during the questioning and Yaxley laughed. He told me again that they had not taken that stupid time turner but unlike before he had added that if I still did not believe him then I should ask Dumbledore. I laughed, of course, as Dumbledore is dead but then I remembered that there is a painting of him into Professor McGonagall's office and I have to say that Yaxley is quite right, if Dumbledore had seen someone, he will tell me unless it is someone from our side, something that Yaxley had also suggested. I have been thinking about it for days too if I am totally honest with you. » admitted Kingsley

« Our side, you mean one of us. » asked Percy nervously.

Kingsley and his flair, it was almost as good as his mother's flair. Percy did not believe that the Minister would get anything from Dumbledore just like he knew that it was a question of days before Kingsley discovered the truth. Percy thought that he was going to faint, he really had to run to the shop.

He was barely listening to Kingsley who was still speaking.

« Yes, Yaxley also suggested that. As I've said, I am not looking for that time turner anymore but I cannot help it, something is telling me that it is the key and I think that I have figured out what Dolohov, Rookwood and Lestrange are running after, how and why. Yaxley is becoming tired and his answers are becoming more and more helpful even if he is not openly giving me the answers but still, I think that I am finally going somewhere and I hope that those three morons as Fred called them do not know who has got that time turner because if they do, this person is in grave danger. » finished Kingsley who did not reveal why that person was in grave danger and Percy afraid to look too curious did not dare to ask

Percy gulped. He had to warn Fred and Hermione but first he had to stop by the archives of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

He excused himself and left but before he could reach the elevator Kingsley had called him back

« Percy please send an owl to Mr Lovegood, it is about time to get his little piece of art, his special time turner. »

« You think that this what they are after. » asked Percy confused

Kingsley nodded and finally let Percy leave.

In the elevator, Percy pressed his head against the wall. He should have thought about it, he had been stupid. Hermione was in danger and so was his brother, well if Kingsley was right, they all were in danger.

...

I am going to try to post the next chapter before the end of the month but I guess it will depend on how the news are going as when they are really bad as they had been the last few weeks, I just don't feel like posting.

Again, I hope that all of you are safe.

xx