Written for the Houses Competition: Round 6: Spring Awakens
House: Hufflepuff
Position: Potions
Category: Standard
Prompt: [Object] Water Lilies
Summary: The water lilies near Harry's grave keep disappearing, and Hermione is determined to find out why.
Word Count: 1279
Warning: Character death
When Harry died of illness at 25, his friends and family grieved. Hermione remembered the disbelief she and everyone else felt. After all Harry had been through, he had died of Muggle disease the magical world had never heard of.
They held two funerals: one for close family and friends and another for the public. Harry was buried during the private funeral and two graves were made. One the public could visit and another only for friends and family and it was in that one he was buried.
Hermione and Ron still visit the grave. They put it near a pond where they could find water lilies, Harry's favorite flowers as they reminded him of his mother. Hermione preferred pink water lilies, as they symbolize rebirth. Ron said it was ridiculous, but Hermione couldn't care less.
It was about 15 years after his death that water lilies started going missing from the pond. Hermione was intrigued, as it was a strange thing to take. They kept regular maintenance of the pond, making sure the water lilies didn't harm it, but something different was clearly going on.
Determined to find out what was happening, Hermione asked Ron for help.
"Ron, the water lilies in the pond are going missing," she said to her husband shortly after finding out.
"The ones in Harry's pond?" he asked in disbelief.
Hermione nodded. On top of stealing water lilies, the person taking them was also stealing from Harry Potter's grave. It was an odd occurrence, as even now Harry was famous for what he had done. No one knew about his second grave, meaning someone might have spilled the secret.
"What are you planning to do?" Ron asked, knowing she already had a plan.
"Catch them, of course," she said, before telling him her plan.
She had already set an alarm spell around the pond, so whenever they came back, she would know. That was just a backup plan, though. There was always a chance he could escape before she arrived, so she planned to stake it out with Ron's help.
The first night, nothing happened. Hermione wondered how often the person came. It had to be often enough as quite a few water lilies had gone missing, so Hermione planned for two more nights. She was sure the person would come back soon.
The second night, they missed him. Somehow, the thief knew someone was on to him and took down the detection spell. It was right after they left to go home, so the thief also knew they were watching them.
It took them a week to catch the thief. Hermione asked Ginny to help them, knowing she would be furious at the thief. Dawn was just about to break when they spotted someone. Ginny, acting quickly, stunned the thief.
They gathered around the thief, satisfied that they had finally caught him. Until they saw his face. Ginny went pale and even though they never saw him in this form, Ron and Hermione knew they were looking at a young Tom Riddle, known now as Lord Voldemort.
"Ginny, is that….?" Ron asked his sister.
"Yes," she replied grimly.
Hermione gulped. She did not know how this was possible or what he was doing, but they had to do something.
"Incarcerous!" Hermione chanted, binding the boy with rope.
"Good thinking, Hermione," Ron praised.
"Should we wake him up now?" Ginny asked.
"If we want answers, I don't think we have a choice," Hermione answered.
Steeling herself, Hermione cast the spell. "Rennervate!"
The boy woke up with a groan, opening his eyes to reveal brown eyes, not the red ones they were expecting. They all sighed in relief.
"Who are you?" the boy demanded once he woke up fully, trying to escape the rope binding him.
"People trying to visit their friend's grave. What about you?" Ginny asked cooly.
The boy flushed red before catching himself. Hermione wondered what was going on in his mind. Did he even know there was a grave here?
"Don't you already know?" he shot back.
"Yes, but we would like to hear it from you," Hermione replied this time.
Ron remained silent, trying to look intimidating. Hermione doubted it was working, but let him be for the moment. The boy looked deep in thought, obviously trying to think of an answer.
"Trying to get water lilies," he eventually answered, looking Hermione straight in the eye in determination.
"What for?" she pressed.
"For my… acquaintance," he replied in disdain.
"Really? You don't seem to like this person?" Hermione questioned.
The boy – they should ask for his name, Hermione thought briefly – refused to answer. Luckily for them, their answer found them.
"Tom!" a voice called, making them freeze.
The voice sounded so familiar, and Hermione's thoughts were confirmed when they saw a boy about the same age as Tom running up to them. The boy had messy black hair and as he got closer, she noticed emerald green eyes.
The boy, who Hermione was sure was Harry, froze when he saw them. He didn't recognize them, Hermione was sure, but clearly saw the situation Tom – as they now knew – was in.
"Um, hi?" the other boy greeted, looking for a way to retreat.
"Hi," Hermione replied first, which was echoed by her companions.
"What's going on?" he asked tentatively.
"As you can see, brat, I was captured," Tom replied dryly.
The other boy – Hermione refused to say he was Harry – rolled his eyes at him.
"I can see that Tom," the boy replied in a sarcastic tone, "But what did you do now?"
"He's been stealing water lilies from the pond!" Ron blurted out.
Hermione sighed. As much as she loved her husband, he was an idiot sometimes.
"The lilies are for our friend who has passed, unfortunately," Hermione explained gently, "Which is why we caught him."
The boy sighed, obviously used to such antics.
"I'm sorry about my friend here," he said sincerely, "And he won't do it again, right?"
The question was clearly aimed at Tom, who reluctantly nodded. Hermione stared at the two boys, before sighing. She released Tom from his bindings and Harry helped him up.
"Wait," she said, stopping the two boys before they could leave, "Who were the water lilies for?"
The boy, whose name they still didn't know, blushed.
"They were for me," he answered, which made the three suck in their breath.
He was so much like their Harry, was Hermione's only thought. He was happier though, unburdened by war or base.
"Do you want one?" Ginny asked.
The boy nodded hesitantly, and Ginny summoned one for him. She placed it delicately in his hand and he thanked her profusely.
"What's your name?" she asked gently, interrupting his thanks.
"Harry," he replied, "and this is Tom."
"Well, Harry, Tom," Hermione said, butting in, "Try not to get into too much trouble, okay?"
The two nodded before taking off. The trio watched as they disappeared in silence.
"Do you think…" Ron asked, trailing off.
"I think so," Ginny replied.
"Should we do anything?" he questioned.
"No," Hermione replied this time, "After all, they look happy. They don't need us intruding."
The two nodded and life continued on.
'If you two can hear me,' Hermione thought as they Apparated home, 'Thank you, Harry, and I hope you find happiness in this life. Tom, even though you did many things in your previous life, I hope you can find happiness too. Goodbye and maybe we'll meet each other in another life.'
When Hermione died, many years later, she only smiled as she waited for her next life to begin.