Once again I have to beg forgiveness for taking so long. I didn't have a clear vision of where I wanted this story to go and for months I struggled with writing this (at least to me) very defining chapter.


Chapter six

His daughters were long asleep in their room by the time Harry sat on the edge of his bed almost motionlessly staring at the tattered old shoebox he kept hidden in the deepest confines of his wardrobe. The words Hermione had said in the car still rang in his head and with them an unavoidable and heart-shattering question: how had he been able to live such a lie all these years? Moreover, how could he, a wizard, a person whose life was both cursed and blessed by having magic in his veins have lived without it?

It felt like hours later when he found the impetus to actually open the lid of the cardboard shoebox. It was understandably dusty and just as filled with old letters and pieces of parchment as Harry remembered, a decent amount of them still sealed, some for the lack of courage to send and others for lack of courage to open. Harry still couldn't wrap his mind around the exact reason which led him to want to wipe out Hermione Granger and his entire past in those days, but he knew a part of it was due to his own stubbornness. Harry hadn't just been running away from magic as he'd told her in the car, no, he had been running away from having to acknowledge that he'd made a stupid, terrible and utterly irresponsible mistake: marrying Sarah Walsh.

It took him a long time to come to this realization, intent as he was in rebuilding a life for himself and trying so desperately to find happiness after all the traumas and hardships he'd endured. When Harry did come to that realization, however, his daughter Lily was well on the way and he knew it was too late to back down. After that, he couldn't bear the thought of her, he couldn't bear to see her neat and elegant cursive writing on parchment or imagine her voice in his head. Harry just had to leave Hermione Granger behind in order to fully embrace his new and inescapable reality, one in which he'd made the wrong decision, a reality where he had chosen the wrong woman. Hermione had been there when the magic chapter of his life had started and stupidly fifteen years ago he had convinced himself that to let go of her he needed to let go of it as well… They were irrevocably linked in his mind.

Buried beneath all the letters wrapped in a dark suede fabric was his old wand - 11 inches, made of holly wood and a single phoenix's feather. He stared at the poorly bundled object that was once so essential in his life… His eyes welled up. He hesitated for a moment but gathered all the Gryffindor courage he somewhat still had to unwrap it.

Nothing prepared Harry for what he saw. Absolutely nothing.

The wand was so dry it was practically disintegrating in his hand. Harry thought that perhaps he might feel a rush of energy, a spark of recognition, something that would make him feel the deep impact of what he was doing - rekindling with his magic - but instead, it seemed dead. It was nothing like he'd fantasized about… Not that it was something he'd often thought about anyway.

Harry carefully wrapped his fingers around his wand afraid it might snap in half. It didn't, at least not immediately. He looked up to see his reflection on the oval mirror embedded in the antique wooden wardrobe. For a minute there he wasn't this Harry, but that teenage boy he'd once been, full of hope and passion in his eyes.

"Lumos!" He cast, crying out the spell with all he had, dying to feel the tingling of the magic channel from his core to that of his wand.

The light that the wand cast was weak and blinked just as a faulty lightbulb would until it went dark on its own.

In that moment Harry was hit with the most devastating of conclusions: he'd almost killed his magic. Almost.

He waited, in the hopes that it might light up again, attempting another lumos only to get the same exact disappointing outcome. Desperation filled his entire being, his mind and heart accelerated and he felt a surge of something like he hadn't felt in years. Later, lying there in the wee hours, Harry reckoned it might be the very feeling of resolve.

He wanted his magic back more than anything, he was certain.

He lay in bed though it was all in vain. Too many thoughts and ideas were floating in his mind, rendering him sleepless, staring at the ceiling and the precarious roll of fabric on his nightstand. He watched from the large bedroom window as the morning sun rose on the horizon and washed his bedroom in its lavender and orange hues. The clock on his nightstand went off at six, it's all he'd been waiting for.

Harry jumped out of bed feeling uncharacteristically happy, eager even. He got his daughters out of bed, dressed and breakfasted in record time before loading them both into his tiny blue car. He dropped Lily off at school and then accompanied by his youngest made the small trip all the way to Arundel, his wand still wrapped in the suede cloth, stored safely inside his glove box.

He parked in the single available space in front of what he'd learned was Hermione's shop, The Bewitchery. His heart beat fast in anticipation. Harry couldn't wait to tell Hermione of his latest development. If there was anyone capable of helping him with his wand and his magic it was her. He wasn't exactly sure to what extent she might be willing to help him, especially since he hadn't yet been fully or officially forgiven, but brilliant as Hermione was she'd likely send him in the right direction.

He jumped out of the car, May in one arm and the wand in the opposite hand and entered Hermione's shop for the very first time.

The Bewitchery was so utterly beautiful and cozy, it took his breath away. He had never seen a place look so much like it's owner, in the sense that everything Harry knew Hermione had liked was in there somehow and tastefully. The books, the assortment of teas, the flowers, the pretty shelves and displays, the antiques, it was all so inevitably her that to Harry it nearly felt like coming home.

"Good morning, welcome to the Bewitchery, how may I help you?" He heard a good-humored woman greet him waving from behind a long wooden counter where jars of leaves, ointments, herbs, and essences were.

When Harry's eyes turned to look at her he paused for a moment, recognizing the familiar curls, brown eyes and smile. She was older than the particular Granger he was looking for, but not too different from how he remembered her from the first time they'd met 15 years ago in Australia.

"Dr. Granger…" She furrowed her brows for a moment, before her eyes widened in recognition.

"As I live and breathe… Harry Potter?" Harry shrugged, sending her a little smile. He watched as her entire expression changed into an almost scowl. Her lips formed a thin line and her eyes were as glaring as any. Harry quickly realized this wasn't the warm welcome he'd been hoping for. "It's Hermione's day off, she's not coming in today. She's on a date with her boyfriend." It didn't go unnoticed how she emphasized that final word.

It was as if Rosalind was telling him to back off from her daughter. Harry wouldn't, not ever again.

"I'll come back another day then… Nice seeing you, ma'am." She nodded, mumbling out a barely audible 'likewise'.

Harry and May were just about crossing the door when something occurred to him. He ignored Rosalind Granger's death glares and followed the signs that directed him towards Crescent Circle, the local commercial hub for wizards, access to which could be had on the second floor. Surely there'd be a way to owl another old friend from there.

To say Lily Potter was going mad with anger was an understatement. For three days now a little blonde boy in her class by the name of Alfie Houghton had been pulling at her braids and teasing her relentlessly. She'd managed to stoically ignore him, until the moment that they were all filing in after break time and Alfie with that ugly donkey face of his had the grand idea to tease her for not having a mum.

"I heard you don't have a mummy, Lily Potter!" He mocked, placing his pudgy hand around his waist, sticking his nose up at her. "I bet she thought you were so boring and so ugly with your messy black hair like that that she ran away!" Bea had stood by her friend, her brown eyes wide out of shock.

"No! That's not why at all!" Lily answered, defiantly, though her bright green eyes betrayed her feelings. Lily's voice trembled, as did her lips, but she decided she wouldn't give that horrible Alfie Houghton the satisfaction. "My mum died, she didn't leave because she wanted to!" Alfie scoffed at her response and laughed.

"You're so ugly, Lily Potter, you've got four eyes and your mummy died afraid of you!" Bea watched with eyes wide in horror as her best friend's face went red with fury, her eyes welling up with tears that soon fogged her glasses.

Bea let go of Lily's hand and was about to shout for their teacher inside, but it was too late.

"You're the one who's ugly Alfie Houghton, you ugly mean donkey!" Lily cried out.

Lily's anger was so great that she was overcome with a burning feeling, a feeling that prompted her to ball both her hands into fists at her sides and a silverish light encircled her entire figure until she screamed so shrill and deafeningly loud that the light cast itself from her onto her bully. Alfie's blonde hair and blue eyes morphed into the hideous face of a donkey, long gray ears sprouting on top of his head and a tail at his bottom.

Bea couldn't believe her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hands.

Alfie couldn't properly speak, only made noises like a donkey, until he caught sight of his new tail and ears and started desperately rolling about the lawn.

Lily screamed and screamed until her voice was gone, hot tears streaming down her cheeks, absolutely trembling with shock from what she'd done.

Their teacher, Ms. Andrews came running towards them, gasping and falling at her knees upon seeing Alfie in that state. She looked at Beatrice with a look of panic.

"Call your mother immediately!" Bea didn't know quite what to do with herself before she remembered the coin her mother always had her carry in her pocket for emergencies. Bea hadn't the slightest idea how a coin could help her, but she took it out and rubbed it anyway until the coin started spinning in her hand, glowing a bright glow until it grew hotter, but not enough to burn.

Ms Andrews had her phone on her ear by then, trying as best as she could to hide that donkey Alfie with her body, so that no one else at the school would see.

Lily continued to shake and cry, her eyes going from Alfie to the golden light coming from Bea's hand and all she wanted was to disappear from what she'd done. Bea wouldn't want to be friends with her anymore and Ms. Andrews would probably hate her forever and send her to jail. Her sobs began to intensify and more and more she wished to be gone, until the moment she disappeared with a loud crack.

"Dear heavens, where has Lily gone?!" Ms. Andrews shrieked, panicking even more, her face pale. Before the teacher could even think of fainting, another crack could be heard and Hermione appeared, her wand pointing out, that look of alarm and worry on her face.

"Mummy! Mummy!" Bea cried out, running to her, wrapping her arms around her mother's midsection. "Lily t-turned A-alfie…" She pointed to the boy and Hermione couldn't believe her eyes.

"Lily Potter did this? Where is she?"

"She disappeared with a crack just like you do sometimes!" Hermione pursed her lips and aimed her wand at Alfie.

"Finite Incantatem! Somnium!" Hermione exclaimed, casting a spell that returned Alfie back to normal and then another that made him immediately fall asleep on the ground.

"I've called her father!" Ms. Andrews let her know with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I-I didn't know she was a witch too…" Hermione sighed, pinching her nose. "Oh, God, please tell me this boy is alive!"

"Ms. Andrews, he's fine, just sleeping. I need you to secure Alfie and Beatrice for me, away from everybody else, someplace safe and comfortable. Calm him down if he wakes. Do not notify his parents!" The teacher nodded rapidly, pulling the boy into her arms. "If anyone asks he's just running a mild fever." Ms. Andrews nodded as she headed inside. Hermione turned to her daughter, "Be good, we'll talk later." Bea nodded obediently and ran inside the school.

Lily found herself high up on a tree the minute she opened her eyes. She felt a sickening in her stomach as she looked down, seeing the large brick building of her school behind her. She was too far up to be able to climb down without hurting herself.

"D-daddy!" She cried, not knowing what else to do besides call out for him, in the hopes that he'd magically appear to save her. "D-daddy! Help me, daddy!"

Hermione heard the muffled cries and followed the sound, her wand gripped tightly in her hand as she tried to concentrate as much as possible to find Harry's little girl.

She exhaled with insurmountable relief once she spotted the bright red of Lily's school uniform in the midst of the tree's bare branches.

She ran towards it and peered up at the girl.

"Lily-it's me, Hermione, Bea's mum. Are you alright?" Lily let out a sob, but nodded, arms wrapped around another branch for safety. "Listen, darling, everything's alright, Alfie is fine… No longer a donkey."

"No?"

"No, love. Now, I need you to be very calm, alright? I'm going to say a strange word and it'll make you float in the air upside down, which means off that branch. Don't worry, you won't hurt yourself, it'll just make it easier for me to catch you."

"No, please…" Lily begged, terrified. She looked directly down at Hermione, her face was serious although there was kindness in her voice.

"Come on Lily, I promise everything will be alright!" Lily shook her head.

"I'll give you a chocolate frog…" Hermione coaxed with a smile and then she watched as Lily's eyes brightened with interest.

"It won't hurt?"

"Not one bit." Lily nodded, granting her permission. "Levicorpus!" Lily saw something akin to a silent bomb explosion erupt from Hermione and then felt her body float making her squeal as she involuntarily spun like a wheel until she was upside down.

"I'm not falling!" Lily exclaimed with wonder before Hermione positioned herself exactly below the girl and wandlessly cast out a liberacorpus. Lily barely had time to scream before she was caught in Hermione's arms.

"You tricked me!" She accused, though she wasn't at all angry.

"Would you let me help you if I didn't?" Lily shook her head, before wrapping her arms tightly around her neck and burying her face in Hermione's mane of curls. Hermione could feel the warm tears against her skin and rubbed soothing circles against Lily's back. "Don't worry, everything's alright…"

"He said mean things about m-my mummy, a-and that I w-was ugly and…" Hermione's heart broke for the crying little girl in her arms. She'd been in that position before many times throughout her childhood, Hermione deeply understood what it felt like to be so utterly hurt and humiliated.

"LILY!" They heard Harry shout as he ran along the corridor towards them, he carried May in his arms who'd latched on to his neck for dear life as he did, his breath heaving.

His eyes caught sight of Lily nestled in Hermione's arms, his friend's hand gently rubbing against her back to soothe her. Their eyes immediately locked and a very obvious question was written in his eyes. Hermione mouthed a 'she's okay,' in his direction and with that Harry was able to relax. After all this time, all these years apart, Harry realized she was still the person he could trust and count on implicitly.

Minutes later they were all sitting in the nurse's station with Alfie still asleep on the cot and a much calmer Ms. Andrews behind the desk. Bea sat on the small bench next to Lily, their hands clasped together while the parents received a good earful from the teacher.

"It's not something that can be controlled, Laura." Hermione explained, "accidental magic can happen for a number of reasons and in this case, it was purely emotional. From where I understand, that boy insulted Lily on so many levels that I have a hard time even picturing him as a normal, sweet, six-year-old child. He told Lily horrible things about her deceased mother, the sort that no one should ever say to anyone!" By the end of her speech, it was Hermione who was nervous as she got up from her chair and paced the room.

"Mr. Potter, why didn't you inform me of your daughter's special gift." Harry hesitated for a moment before sighing and turning to look at his daughter's teacher.

"It had never happened before, I didn't expect it to happen anytime soon… I-" his voice broke for a moment, "Dear Merlin I'm a horrible parent…" he sighed deeply, trying to hold in the tears that wished to fall. "I'm very sorry, Ms. Andrews, really. I hope this won't be something that'll compromise Lily's studying here."

It was then that Ms. Andrews broke her stressed and serious façade, sharing a laugh with Hermione standing behind him. Harry hadn't the slightest idea why.

"Taking into account Beatrice's own little accident last year in kindergarten, it wouldn't be fair of me to expel your daughter. I just need you both to patch up Alfie Houghton before his parents come to pick him up!" Ms. Andrews smiled, her light-brown eyes were bright and friendly. Harry could see why Lily liked her so much as a teacher.

Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it to the boy's forehead casting an obliviate, so that nevermore in his life he'd remember his twenty or so minutes of being a donkey. She then cast a Memory Modifying Charm where all the blonde little boy would remember was being pushed to the ground by a brave little girl after being mean.

Harry had watched the whole ordeal intently, not only impressed by Hermione's abilities, which was silly of him giving their history and knowing she'd always been brilliant, but it also filled him with a feeling akin to envy… Hermione's magic was her superpower and she'd been able to use it to save Lily and Alfie today. Where was Harry's superpower?

Minutes later, all five of them strapped into Harry's car, he was about to turn the key on the ignition when he felt he should say something.

"I wouldn't know what to do if it weren't for you…" Hermione eyed him from the corner of her eyes.

"Besides your awful timing, I think you'd know just what to do, Harry… I think you've let yourself forget just what an amazing wizard you are." And then she looked at him with a smile on her face, "don't let this get to your head though," she hit his arm upon seeing the smirk on his face, a smirk she hadn't seen in a long time and that she'd missed dearly.

"How about some tea?"

"Tea would be nice!" Bea exclaimed from the backseat and Hermione chuckled at her daughter's appetite.

When they were all jumping out of the car Harry watched as Lily laced her fingers with Hermione's.

"Are you like Mary Poppins?" Lily asked her while they went the small path up to Turtledove cottage. The innocent question prompted Hermione to chuckle.

"Yes, Lily, and I'm practically perfect too." Harry laughed and shook his head at her from where he stood.


It's my 24th Birthday tomorrow (the 14th) so please, please be a sweetheart and leave a review, you don't know how much it means to me!