A/N - This is my first time writing a fanfic story, but I really wanted a George/Hermione pairing after the war like I had wanted it. Isn't that the real goal of all fanfic is? I really like constructive criticism. And really all criticism because I'm a sucker for punishment. Anyway, I obviously don't own the characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling. I just wanted to make them better ;) Also, this is a working title and a working story. Maybe it will get a better title, or maybe it won't, that's part of the fun of a working story.
It had been five, long, difficult years since the war had ended. The world had changed drastically from the one Hermione Granger had spent her formative years in. Sitting at her desk in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she stared at a picture and thought of all the sacrifices the magical community endured to end Voldemort once and for all. A tear rolled down her cheek just as Harry Potter entered the office, his eyes quickly glancing at the photo on the bright witch's desk.
"This will be the year we find them Hermione" he said, picking up the frame and smiling at a much younger Hermione with her parents. "We extracted the memories from the last round of Death Eaters we found and none of them had memories of your parents, so that's good news"
The young witch let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. "Thank Merlin for that. I hope, wherever they are, they are happy. Happy and alive". Please be alive, she thought.
"That's what I came to tell you. We captured the last that we were looking for Hermione. After their trials, that's it. We are officially ending the search for all death eaters," Harry looked at his friend, "So, you know," his voice trailed.
"I can leave. I can find them," the witch's tears stopped as she realized what a world without death eaters meant for her and her friends. She was free to leave England. She was free to live on her own, no more of that 'safety in numbers' bullshit the Ministry had been peddling for years. She was free. "Yes," she started slowly "I suppose I will talk to Kingsley about finding a temporary replacement as soon as I have a plan with locations to search."
The Chosen One leaned over to hug his best friend before he left, knowing he would see her at the Burrow later that evening. Hermione threw herself in to her work for the rest of the afternoon, the knowledge that she would be able to begin looking for her parents soon pushed to the back of her mind.
The Burrow had been Hermione's home for the past 5 years, even after her relationship with Ron had ended amiably. The Weasleys were her family, whether she was dating their son or not. She went upstairs to change before everybody arrive. Molly and Hermione had spent weeks planning Ginny's baby shower and the family would all be arriving today to prepare. Hermione was changing out of her work robes when she heard a gentle knock on her door. Pulling the first dress she saw over her head, a simple white, knee length dress, she opened her door to a heavily pregnant Ginny who immediately wrapped the bushy haired brunette in to a hug.
"Oh Hermione. You look so beautiful! How am I supposed to stand next to you when I look like I'm smuggling an entire quidditch set under my clothes," the beautiful girl said, tears forming in her eyes. "Ugh, these bloody hormones turn me in to a blubbering whale. My whole body hurts, I cry over the silliest things, and I can beat Ron in an eating contest. Welcome to motherhood."
"Ginevra Potter, you are gorgeous. I know it's cheesy, but you really are glowing. Pregnancy looks good on you. I can't believe we will have another baby here in a few weeks. I can't wait to hold him or her." Hermione was right. Pregnancy suited the young woman. Her flaming hair was fuller, her petite frame full in the middle, and she really was glowing. "You look happy."
"'Mione, I'm happy and I'm terrified. We have Teddy every other weekend, but this is a full time job. This baby is going to depend on Harry and I for everything. What if Harry and I are just bad parents?" Another tear fell from Ginny's eyes as her best friend wrapped her in a hug.
"Shh, Gin, you and Harry will be amazing parents. This child will be born in to so much love and joy. And they are going to grow up so much differently than we did. You both will give everything to this, just like you do with everything." Thinking of how the Potters were going to be with their unborn child brought back the earlier tears from this morning. "My parents loved me and nurtured every weird and overly studious desire I had, and I think you and Harry both have amazing role models. Molly will not let you fail this child."
"Oh Merlin! I'm so sorry. Harry told me that you are going to start searching for your parents again. I wish that I could go and with you, like old times. Have you decided where to start yet?"
"I went to Australia again with some Aurors a few months ago and finally found their home. It looks like they moved three years ago. I'm afraid something went wrong with my memory charm. I was too emotional. The library at the Ministry had plenty of great books on memory charms and how they can go wrong. I'm afraid that while I wanted to just place the idea of Australia in their minds, I May have muddled it with some of my happiest memories from my childhood. Different locations went through my head before I settled on Australia. I'm going to check those first."Well, after I research a few more things and find a replacement for the office, she thought, wanting to start writing things down.
Ginny was just about to say something else when she heard a loud bang come from outside. "It appears as if the rest of the family has finally shown up. Banging tables together," she said with an exaggerated eye roll. "Time to go start the show. Care to make a tiny wager on who gets hurt first?" Laughter rang throughout the room as the two women left to see the destruction and the culprits.