Shipping Bingo: B5 - Meet the Fam

Trope Bingo: A5 - The Orphan

Spring Bingo: A4 - Path/Trail

Team: Brilliant Snitch
Scavenger Hunt: Sp Items (Desk)
Chimera Creator: Love/Hate

Stacked With: FPC; BAON; ToS; Star; Fence; Shower; T3; Ship; Sp/Tr Bingo; Hunt; Chim

Individual Challenges: Short Jog (Y); Gryffindor MC; Durmstrang MC; Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion; Ethnic & Present; Zed Era; Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y)

Representations: Hermione is autistic; Determination to find family;

Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Nightingale; Spinning Plates; Unwanted Advice; Mouth of Babes; Tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Not a Lamp; Found Family; Nontraditional); Chorus (Wabi Sabi; Bee Haven; Machismo; Rediscovery)

Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: Thimble

Warnings:

Word Count: 1501

~o0o~

Of all the things to come at the end of the war, Hermione never expected to reunite with Viktor Krum. A part of her would always care for Ron, but… well, they were better off as friends. They spent hours talking about it before agreeing to split. And then Viktor came back. He'd heard that Harry had the Right to Conquest after his defeat of Voldemort and knew exactly what to do being from pureblood society without the pitfall of being a bigoted jerk. He and Hermione spent many long nights going over contracts and deeds and documenting the treasures Harry had no clue or even any desire to manage.

And then things just… happened.

"Viktor," said Hermione. "I have a favor I need to ask of you."

"Of course," he said.

"I had wanted to do this since the war ended but… things just got so hectic and I didn't want to do this until things were a bit more stable…" she sighed. "You're going to think I'm awful."

"What is it Hermione?"

"I have to go to New Zealand," she said. "The winter of my sixth year… I obliviated my parents and sent them to New Zealand under new identities. I worried that Death Eaters would go after them, see. And well, after this all ended we were still rounding up rogues and copycats. I'm ready to have them back, but I don't want to go alone. Will you go with me?"

"I do not think that is terrible at all," said Viktor, taking her hand. "Of course I will go with you."

Hermione smiled and hugged him tightly, pressing a swift kiss to his cheek.

They spent the next day preparing to leave. Packing bags, making sure someone would watch Crookshanks for Hermione, getting the time off from work. Viktor arranged the Portkey and hotel so Hermione could focus on the other tasks. Her friends knew she had been planning this for a while and wished her well.

"Don't worry about a thing," said Harry. "I think with the Goblins' help I can keep working on inventory. When you come back we'll work on redistributing it to the people."

"Thanks, Harry," said Hermione. "Also, please don't let my orchid die."

"I will… drop it off with Neville."

Hermione smiled and hugged him.

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

~o0o~

Hermione sat down on the hotel bed with the phone book in her lap. It was much too late in this country to go looking now, but she could at least have a head start.

"So… why did you pick New Zealand?" Viktor asked, wrapping his arms around her middle so he could read over her shoulder.

"Truth is, I was born here," she said. "We moved to England when I was very little. I don't even remember living here, though Dad always made sure I knew my Maori heritage. I told Harry and Ron Australia, but… they were here."

"Any chance they might remember why they left and return to England?" Viktor asked.

"No. I was very thorough with my spell. Besides, with the success they had in England they have enough in savings to live comfortably here." She tapped the page. "Wilkens Family dentistry. At least we got the city right."

"Any chance we can see the sights?" Viktor asked. "After we find your parents, of course."

"I think that could be arranged," she said and settled back against him.

They dozed until it was a decent hour to go out and look for Wendell and Monica Wilkens. Hermione wrote the address down on a slip of paper and found a map of the area in the hotel lobby. They ended up walking there. It wasn't terribly far and that way Viktor would get a chance to at least see the city.

"There it is!" said Hermione, pointing out the sign. She nearly ran inside, but kept her composure as she entered.

A woman at the front desk was typing information for a patient into the computer.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked.

"Er, no, but I am a friend of Dr. and Dr. Wilkens, I happened to be in town for business and thought I'd surprise them."

"Well, they're not in today, but you will find them at the park nearby."

"Thank you so much." Hermione brought out her map, finding it, and dragged Viktor along. She hadn't seen her parents in years and wasn't keen on waiting any longer than she had to. "Oh, of course! Mum and Dad enjoyed going to festivals. They should be around here somewhere."

The space was fairly crowded, but Hermione was sure she'd find them.

Viktor tapped her arm. "Hermione."

"What? Do you see them?"

He shook his head and pointed to a little girl with a wild mane of curly hair. She was crouched next to a bench and looked to be crying. Oh… Hermione went over to her and knelt down.

"Hi there," she said kindly. "Are you alright?"

"I can't f-find my mummy and daddy." the girl sniffled and hiccupped.

"We can help you," said Hermione. "I'm looking for my mummy and daddy, too."

The girl looked up, wide-eyed. "Grown-ups lose mummies and daddies?"

"Sometimes. Maybe we'll find yours while we're looking for mine." Hermione conjured a handkerchief for her to dry her eyes and blow her nose. "This is my very good friend, Viktor. Are you alright with him helping us search?"

"Mmhm."

Hermione picked the girl up so she'd be up high.

"Let me know if you see your parents," she said. "Can you tell me anything about them?"

"I'm 'dopted. A year ago. My name used to be Bertha, but Mummy and Daddy changed it."

"Really?"

"Mmhm. Daddy's wearin' a... a sunset shirt and Mummy has a balloon hat."

They didn't go far when the little girl spotted her parents through the crowd.

"There! Mummy! Daddy!" Hermione headed that way, setting the girl down when the crowds parted.

"Hermione!"

Mum and Dad…. Her Mum and Dad ran towards the little girl and scooped her up in their arms. Hermione stiffened and grabbed onto Viktor's hand. She had to get out of here. Little Hermione was talking to their parents and pointed at her. They were approaching. She had to get out of here.

"Thank you so much for finding our daughter," said Mum. She was indeed wearing a silly balloon hat no doubt made by the clown they had passed.

"Of course," said Viktor. "We could not stand to see a child separated."

"Are you two married?" asked Dad.

"No. We have discussed it, but I was hoping to get blessing from her parents."

"Well, you seem like a capable young man." Dad looked to Hermione. "Again, thank you, Miss. I don't know what we'd do without our little Hermione. My wife and I, we always felt we were meant to have a daughter."

"Hermione is quite an interesting name."

"Yes. We met performing in A Winter's Tale, but we always liked the name Hermione."

"It is a beautiful name," said Viktor, turning to Hermione. "Darling, are you alright?"

"Yes, I think… I think the sun is getting to me. I need to have a seat."

"Oh, of course, don't let us keep you," said Mum. "You have a lovely day now."

"You too," said Hermione.

She turned. Had it not been so crowded she would have started running. Instead, she walked towards the boardwalk and headed down below the docks where she and Viktor wouldn't be seen.

"Hermione. They were right there, why didn't you restore their memories?"

"I can't," she whispered. "They're settled here. They have a new life. A new daughter. One without magic. One who won't break their hearts and steal their minds." She pressed her face into her knees. "How could I have thought things would return to normal?"

Viktor wrapped an arm around her and sat quietly.

"And that little girl…" she shook her head. "Can you imagine what she would think? She might think she was just a placeholder until I came back. I couldn't do that to her. No. I made my bed and I am lying in it." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "They looked happy, right?"

"Yes," said Viktor. "Very happy."

She nodded. "Good. I'm glad. I want them to be happy."

"Your happiness matters, too."

Hermione smiled blandly and pressed her cheek against his shoulder. "I got to see them. I got to see that they were happy. Is it true you were going to get their blessing?"

"I can be old fashioned," he said. "I just wanted their approval."

"I think you have it. Dad seemed to like you, anyway." Hermione linked her fingers with his. "I have a family. I have Harry, Ginny, Ron, and you, of course." She closed her eyes and leaned into her boyfriend's side. "I think… I think I can learn to be okay with it."

"I will be by your side while you do," Viktor promised.