Ch. 7

Hermione woke Jane up early. Too early for the summer at least, in Jane's opinion—the birds were still chirping and the grass hadn't yet dried.

To her slightly annoyed daughter, Hermione explained, "Remember what I said last night, Jane? We're visiting Hagrid at Hogwarts today, and we need to floo to Hogsmeade and then walk from there. And not without having a decent breakfast first, so get up!"

Jane wasn't really quite sure why her mother had randomly decided to visit her big friend at Hogwarts, but she got dressed and prepared to leave anyway. A pinch of powder, a pit of green flames, and a mouthful of soot later, they arrived in the Three Broomsticks, where they briefly greeted Madame Rosmerta and walked out into the bright sunshine.

It was a bustling day in Hogsmeade, one of those summer Saturday s when everybody felt like being around and about. Hermione passed several of her friends on their walk through the village, and Jane even passed one of her quidditch teammates. Jane decided the day was worth it; her mother had even said they could visit her uncles in their joke shop on their way home.

As they approached Hogwarts, Jane held her breath. She'd been here a handful of times before, of course, but it never ceased to amaze her. And to think that in a few short weeks she'd be a student here! She started to wonder, for the umpteenth time, if she'd make any friends, get good grades, make the quidditch team, be sorted into Gryffindor, have any adventures. Would anybody here ever know her as someone other than another Weasley kid, know her not just as the daughter of the famous Ron and Hermione, but as the individual person she was?

"Jane! Over this way, honey." In all her worrying, Jane had strayed from the path, toward the lake. She made her way back on track, and even took her mother's hand.

Hermione, who felt as if Jane was showing her less affection than ever these days, welcomed the feeling of her daughter's warm hand in her own. She looked down at Jane like she did so often when they were together. And every time Hermione stared, she couldn't help but see the same things: Ron's red hair, framing Hermione's face covered with Ron's freckles. Jane took short, quick steps like her mother and smiled just like her father.

Eventually, the two of them had reached Hagrid's hut and waited patiently after knocking. Three barks from Fang later, the door opened and a big smiling Hagrid welcomed them in.

"So good ter see yeh! Come in, come in!" He motioned for Hermione and her daughter to sit down while bustling around the room, taking the teapot off of the fire and bringing the plate of scones to the table.

"It feels good to be back here again," Hermione commented, once the three of them and a silence had settled.

"Yeah. The number o' times I found the three of yeh in 'ere, always talking about some adventure or other. Or else it was jus' one of yeh, usually Hermione, complainin' about Ron. Or the other way round, come ter think of it." Hagrid grinned at Hermione, who returned the gesture, although somewhat uncomfortably.

Jane was beginning to form interest in the conversation. Hagrid, she realized, could be a valuable resource for her latest project.

"But enough about them, Jane. How're yeh getting along?"

"Er—alright, I guess."

"Coming ter Hogwarts this September, right?"

"Yeah. I'm really excited, actually."

"Yeh should be. Mos' kids are pretty nervous when they get 'ere, but doesn't take long ter figure out Hogwarts is a special place. Yeh're gonna have a lot of fun 'ere."

"I hope so. Certainly not as much as my parents, though," said Jane brightly, while she hoped subtly turning the conversation topic back to her parents.

"Yeah. Well, probably nobody could match their time 'ere. I swear, Harry dragged 'em into more--"

"—hey, no, Ron and I dragged ourselves along willingly! Harry didn't make us do all that stuff, you know that!"

"Alrigh', alrigh', Hermione. It wasn't Harry who made you do all tha' stuff. I know." Hermione nodded, satisfied. "It was yer freckled face crush yeh wanted to impress, am I right?"

Hermione shot him a vicious glare while Jane just sat, bemused.

"Jus' joking, Hermione. Would be tough ter name a braver witch than yeh."

Jane took a risk and pursued an opportunity. "Was it really that obvious my mum had a crush on my dad?"

"Yeah. The way they looked at each other. And the bickerin' was a dead giveaway, I'll tell yeh that." Hagrid laughed. "Nobody could keep up a banter like those two. An' if there wasn't a reason ter fight, they made one up. This one," he pointed at Hermione, "was always on yer dad's nerves about his schoolwork. Would've drove 'im absolutely crazy if he didn' love 'er ter pieces."

It was Jane's turn to give a satisfied smile.

"You were there at their wedding, weren't you, Hagrid?"

"Yeah. Great day, tha' was. Remember how Neville stepped on Parvati's dress and caused all the bridesmaids ter nearly trip an' fall? He probably still calls the two of yeh up, apologizin'."

Hermione's eyes twinkled a little at the memory, before she sort of shook her head and snapped, "So why are we talking about my wedding, again?"

Hagrid frowned. "Jus doin' a little remembering, is all."

"The things we're remembering are actually things I'd love to forget ever happened," said Hermione, who was turning very red.

"Mum, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Jane. I just don't really feel like talking about stupid things that happened in the past and don't matter anymore." Hermione took a deep breath, as if trying to collect herself again. She was about to say something else, to start a new conversation, when Jane interrupted her.

"Doesn't matter?" Jane cried, all of a sudden outraged. "Your wedding doesn't matter to you at all? He doesn't matter to you at all? You think you can just forget about him? Can I remind you that he's still my father, and that won't ever change? BOTH of you, not just you, and not just him, will always be a part of my life! How can you even think of trying to erase what existed for so long?" Jane was determined, and proceeded to stare down her mother.

Hermione looked into Jane's eyes for a few seconds, perfectly calm, and then started to cry.

"I'm sorry...I just...I think...I'm just going to step outside, for a moment..." whispered Hermione in between whimpers. She walked across the room and strode outside.

Jane was about to open her mouth when Hagrid said, "Jus' let 'er go, Jane. I think she needs ter be alone fer a bit." The two of them watched the sobbing woman walk up towards the castle.

The two of them looked at each other. "More tea?" Hagrid asked.

Hermione walked up the worn path towards the castle, kicking stones with the tips of her shoes and wiping the tears from her eyes. She was taking her time, but knew exactly where she was headed. She just didn't know how she would feel when she got there.

A/N: Review! Please!