Author's Notes
Thank you for the very nice reviews
Chapter 7 How do you tell?
"What did you just call me?" Sara asked backing away with Eric.
"I don't believe it. It's me Penny." Penny said her eyes growing wide. "You have to be. You disappeared." She slowly moved closer to Hermione. Penny still could not believe her eyes, but she had known her. Penny had grown closer to Hermione after she had married Percy.
"You know who I am?" Sara asked, wondering if this really was someone from her past.
"Yes, we knew each other." Penny wasn't too sure why Hermione was behaving this way. "My husband is your best-friend's brother. We have been looking every where for you."
Sara looked down. "I'm sorry. I don't remember you."
"You must, Hermione please." Penny extended her hand to the girl.
"Amnesia." Sara said. "I was struck with about two years ago. I can't remember anything at all before that."
Penny nodded in understanding. "Listen to me. Your family is worried about you. You're mother she made herself sick with worry."
"Are you sure I am who you say I am?" Sara had begun thinking. She knew this woman had to be absolutely sure.
"Sure," Penny said. "The way you look. The fact that you are around books. Smart, always thinking. Wait right here, please. I'm just going to find my husband, Percy."
Penny left the girl and walked over to where Percy was. "Percy I have to show you something." She said pulling his arm. "Please you have to see this."
"Okay," Percy said getting up. He followed Penny to the aisles. Unsure of what she wanted him to see.
"Hermione!" Percy said has soon as he saw her. "Where have you been? You have a kid!" He was actually looking at Hermione. After all that time she had been right there.
Percy had to stare at the child she was cradling. That boy looked so much like Ron. Nothing was said about her being pregnant. What if Ron didn't know? Had that been the reason she left?
"I told you." Penny had said. "Please come with us." Penny said.
She then turned to Percy. "She's lost her memory. She doesn't remember any of us."
All alarms in Sara's head were going off then. "Eric, I have to take care of my baby."
"Don't worry." Percy said. "My mum is ready for any child of any age. Knowing her she will be very happy to meet him." He had to stop Penny from moving closer to her. They would have to be gentle about this.
Sara stared into the eyes of the couple. They were determined, she was sure of that. But if these people really did know her? It would be worth something. She could ask to go. William would understand, he knew of her condition. Besides he should come out of his office and work for a while.
"Just give me a moment to grab his bag," Sara said.
Penny and Percy followed Sara towards the Employee's Lounge. They did not to want to leave her alone for a moment. "Where is my family?" She asked.
"Ottery St. Catchpole." Percy said. "My parent's house is there. Everyone knows where it is. They can get there easy enough."
Sara had started to get the feeling that they cared about her. She went inside of the Employee's Lounge while Penny and Percy waited outside.
"Penny you better go ahead of us. Get Madam Pomphrey, she knows Hermione well enough. I will meet you at the Burrow. Get a message to Hermione's parents as well to come. I will get her there through Muggle means. For some reason I don't think she knows she's a witch."
"I'll get the family together." Penny said. "I don't know how we are going to tell them, especially Ron."
"Ron is strong enough." Percy said. "You better Disapperate." He said giving her a quick kiss.
Sara opened her locker in the Employees Lounge to grab Eric's diaper bag. She then knocked on William's door before entering. "Sir, I have to leave early."
"What's wrong?" William asked.
"You know about my amnesia. I just meet a woman and a man, they claim to know me." Sara said.
"Are you sure about this?" William said.
"Something just tells me to believe them." Sara said. "Eric took to her immediately. He never takes to strangers, especially adults."
"Alright." Williams said nodding his head. "But listen you call me, right after you get where you are going. If I don't get a call from you I will call the police, understand."
"Yes, don't worry I can take care of myself." Sara said. "They said their house is in Ottery St. Catchpole. So it may be a little while before I call."
"If this does pan out you can have this week and next week off." William said.
"Thank you," Sara said. She then picked up the phone in the lounge and called the hospital. "I'm trying to reach Randall Bishop." Sara asked.
"Randall Bishop." Randall said after a moment.
"This is Sara. I have a ride home, so don't worry."
"Alright. I'll call you later."
"I may not be home for a few days. I just got a lead on my family." Sara said.
"That's great!" Randall said. "Call me when you get a chance alright. Let me know."
"I will." Sara said hanging up the phone.
Outside the door she saw the man, Percy waiting for her. "I sent Penny ahead. She's going to make sure that everything is set for you to arrive. She's going to collect your parents and everyone else. Are you ready?"
"Yes," Sara answered. Her heart had started thumping hard in her chest.
Percy grabbed the diaper bag off Sara's shoulder. "I'll take that. You can carry the boy. You named him Eric?"
"Yes," Sara answered. "Eric Harold Williams."
They took a taxi to the train station. Percy paid for two tickets to London. When they boarded the train Percy helped Sara with Eric. He seemed to be good with children.
After they pulled away from the station Sara decided to start a conversation. "Do you have kids?" Sara asked.
"Penny is working on our first, she is about to start the second trimester." Percy answered. "So you don't have any memory at all."
"None." Sara said. "The only thing I can remember is when I was found."
"Found?" Percy asked.
"A bobbie on walking patrol found me lying unconscious in an alley in the village. It was officially labeled as a robbery, since nothing had been found on me." Sara answered. "I was three months pregnant with Eric at the time."
My little nephew. Percy thought. He did not know how he could tell her that he knew who the father of her child was. He knew Ron would be happy with the idea of being a father. Had she known when she disappeared? Is that why she left? But how did she lose her memory? The questions kept pouring into his mind. He almost felt the need to invest in a pensive.
Sara continued talking about Eric. His funny words, when he first learned to walk.
The thought about finding Hermione had saddened Percy in a way. She was broken. It was like hunting for a favorite toy and finding it in shatters. He had only found a piece of what was Hermione.
"He is a great kid." Percy finally said. "Well Hermione, Sara. I'm not even to sure what I should call you."
"Hermione is fine." Sara said. "I suppose it is something that I should get used to."
"There are actually quite a few things that you should get used to." Percy said. Did he even have the right to tell her the truth?
He knew he would be careful about this. His own foolishness had nearly caused the death of his brother Bill. He did not want to cause more pain to his family by not doing this correctly and scaring Hermione away.
"There are things about you. Some of the things are hard to explain."
"Like what?" Sara asked.
"Do you know what the word Muggle is or maybe Hogwarts?"
"No," Sara said, completely unsure of where Percy was going.
"This is going to very difficult for you to understand." Percy then looked around to be sure that they were alone. "What I am about to tell may be hard to believe. But you must trust me." Percy began. "You must believe me though, you are a witch."
"I'm a what?" Sara asked shocked by the final statement.
"You are a witch. You attended a boarding school for witches and wizards called Hogwarts."
"This is insane" Sara stated suddenly fearing the man.
"I promise you this is true and there is nothing that could make me harm you or that baby. My little brother was your best friend growing up. We have been watching him die a little bit more each day since you disappeared."
Sara had to pause to regain her composure. "If what you are saying is true, can you give me something that is proof?" Sara asked.
Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a wooden stick. "This is my wand. This allows us to perform spells. See that toy Eric dropped. Accio Block."
Sara gasped as she watched the block move from the floor to Percy's outstretched hand. "How can this be true?" Sara asked. She saw it. She believed her eyes. Eric who had seen what happened was laughing about it. She had to know how far this would go.
"It's just our world. I promise you we will do everything that we can to bring your memory back."
"Can't you just do a spell?" Sara asked.
"No. I am afraid that I am not a healer. I'm actually working as a lackey for our Ministry." Percy answered. "Penny is going to bring a healer to the house to help you."
"A healer will be able to bring back my memory?" Sara asked.
"Hopefully, maybe just being around the Burrow again will help. That's what my parents named our house. You used to spend summers with us. My parents loved you like a second daughter."
"How many children did your parents have?"
"Seven total. Six boys, and one girl Ginny the baby."
"Seven," Hermione said. "That would be a big family."
"We all love each other and stand besides one another. Right now all of us are out looking for you. Bill, the oldest started looking in France and Spain."
"Doesn't seem like I was that far away." Sara said. "Guess magic doesn't make things much easier."
"Magic makes things easier and in cases harder. It can bring joy and it can bring terror." Percy said. "Professor Dumbledore said that on my very first day of school at the start of term feast. He was Headmaster, a great man. He was very forgiving."
"You got in trouble at school I take it." Sara asked.
"Not once. My younger brothers though, especially the twins. No. I did something really stupid after I left Hogwarts. Someone should have hit me over the head with a broomstick until I was a peg in the ground. When I tried to apologize, Professor Dumbledore was the only person except for my mum that would believe me when I said I was sorry."
"What did you do?" Sara asked.
"I endangered my entire family." Percy flatly answered. "I was how Ron put it 'the world's biggest prat.'"
"Ron is one of your brothers." Sara asked.
"The youngest boy. The one that you were friends with." Percy answered.
After a while the train stopped. Percy helped Sara gather her things. They stepped outside and grabbed a cab. Percy gave him some weird directions and they were off. They did not talk during the cab ride. Sara was still sinking in what she was told.
They stopped in front of an odd house. Percy paid the cab and lead Sara inside.
Sara looked at the house. Percy had mentioned magic, which what was probably the only thing holding the house up.
"Are you remembering anything?"
"No." Sara answered looking around the inside.
They went inside and saw Penny there with a woman who looked like a nurse. How did she get here so fast?
"Hello Miss Granger." The woman said. "I see you are yet again under my care."
"She still doesn't remember anything, even about being a witch." Percy said. "I only told her about Hogwarts though."
The woman appeared to ignore Percy as she looked over Sara. She pulled out what appeared to be a wand and was muttering spells at Sara, asking if any were working.
"I'm going to go look through some books I have. I will let you know shortly" Madam Pomphrey said she nodded towards Penny and disappeared with a popping sound.
Sara gasped falling backwards.
"It's alright." Percy said. "It's just called Apparation. It makes traveling a lot easier."
"You better relax for a moment. I'll take care of Eric. Molly has a playroom." Penny said taking Eric. "I told everyone to be here in an hour, so expect them in forty-five minutes."
"I don't think I can take anymore of this." Sara said. She was slumped on the couch not sure if she could move.
"Yes you can, you're a Gryffindor." Percy said. "The symbol of courage."
"What?" Sara asked.
"When a student goes to Hogwarts they place a hat on their head. The hat reads you and determines what house you belong to based upon your strength and ideals. The hat saw you as being brave so you went into Gryffindor."
"Where you in Gryffindor too?" Sara asked.
"All Weasleys go into Gryffindor." Percy answered. "Why don't you go upstairs so you can wash up? You can wait there until everyone arrives. I'll break the news to everyone and let them know about your amnesia so they won't jump on you. Penny will watch Eric so don't worry about him."
Sara nodded and went upstairs. After a bit of searching she found the loo. She splashed water onto her face and looked at the mirror. "Who am I?" She asked towards the reflection. She had no memory at all of any of this.
"You are who you are." The mirror said back.
Sara jumped back, but remembered that this was a magic house. Maybe talking mirrors weren't so bad.
She stayed in there for a while just waiting. After sometime she heard people coming into the house. Sara slowly stepped downstairs, so she would not attract attention to herself. She stayed hidden just listening.
"Okay Perce you dragged us all here what is going on?" Someone asked.
"Please, I want everyone to be here." Percy said. "Fred George, please."
Sara heard a few more people enter. She then heard several voices demanding explanations.
Ron and Harry came in together. Percy looked at Ron. Eric looked so much like him.
He tried to get them to sit down. Percy had seen the Grangers come in just behind them.
Everyone was demanding explanations right then. Even his parents weren't helping in the matter.
"Please I have something very important to tell you." Percy said. He wanted to break this gently but couldn't, he had to come out and say it. "Listen to me. We found Hermione."
The room fell silent. Every eye in the room was on Percy at that moment.
Sara heard the statement from Percy. She was surprised by the effect the statement had made on the group.
"Where is she?" Someone demanded.
"Is she alright?" A woman's crocked voice asked.
"Please listen to me." Percy said.
"Where?" A harsh voice stated.
"Right here." Sara said coming out.
How do you think Ron will react about Eric?
Thank you for the very nice reviews
Chapter 7 How do you tell?
"What did you just call me?" Sara asked backing away with Eric.
"I don't believe it. It's me Penny." Penny said her eyes growing wide. "You have to be. You disappeared." She slowly moved closer to Hermione. Penny still could not believe her eyes, but she had known her. Penny had grown closer to Hermione after she had married Percy.
"You know who I am?" Sara asked, wondering if this really was someone from her past.
"Yes, we knew each other." Penny wasn't too sure why Hermione was behaving this way. "My husband is your best-friend's brother. We have been looking every where for you."
Sara looked down. "I'm sorry. I don't remember you."
"You must, Hermione please." Penny extended her hand to the girl.
"Amnesia." Sara said. "I was struck with about two years ago. I can't remember anything at all before that."
Penny nodded in understanding. "Listen to me. Your family is worried about you. You're mother she made herself sick with worry."
"Are you sure I am who you say I am?" Sara had begun thinking. She knew this woman had to be absolutely sure.
"Sure," Penny said. "The way you look. The fact that you are around books. Smart, always thinking. Wait right here, please. I'm just going to find my husband, Percy."
Penny left the girl and walked over to where Percy was. "Percy I have to show you something." She said pulling his arm. "Please you have to see this."
"Okay," Percy said getting up. He followed Penny to the aisles. Unsure of what she wanted him to see.
"Hermione!" Percy said has soon as he saw her. "Where have you been? You have a kid!" He was actually looking at Hermione. After all that time she had been right there.
Percy had to stare at the child she was cradling. That boy looked so much like Ron. Nothing was said about her being pregnant. What if Ron didn't know? Had that been the reason she left?
"I told you." Penny had said. "Please come with us." Penny said.
She then turned to Percy. "She's lost her memory. She doesn't remember any of us."
All alarms in Sara's head were going off then. "Eric, I have to take care of my baby."
"Don't worry." Percy said. "My mum is ready for any child of any age. Knowing her she will be very happy to meet him." He had to stop Penny from moving closer to her. They would have to be gentle about this.
Sara stared into the eyes of the couple. They were determined, she was sure of that. But if these people really did know her? It would be worth something. She could ask to go. William would understand, he knew of her condition. Besides he should come out of his office and work for a while.
"Just give me a moment to grab his bag," Sara said.
Penny and Percy followed Sara towards the Employee's Lounge. They did not to want to leave her alone for a moment. "Where is my family?" She asked.
"Ottery St. Catchpole." Percy said. "My parent's house is there. Everyone knows where it is. They can get there easy enough."
Sara had started to get the feeling that they cared about her. She went inside of the Employee's Lounge while Penny and Percy waited outside.
"Penny you better go ahead of us. Get Madam Pomphrey, she knows Hermione well enough. I will meet you at the Burrow. Get a message to Hermione's parents as well to come. I will get her there through Muggle means. For some reason I don't think she knows she's a witch."
"I'll get the family together." Penny said. "I don't know how we are going to tell them, especially Ron."
"Ron is strong enough." Percy said. "You better Disapperate." He said giving her a quick kiss.
Sara opened her locker in the Employees Lounge to grab Eric's diaper bag. She then knocked on William's door before entering. "Sir, I have to leave early."
"What's wrong?" William asked.
"You know about my amnesia. I just meet a woman and a man, they claim to know me." Sara said.
"Are you sure about this?" William said.
"Something just tells me to believe them." Sara said. "Eric took to her immediately. He never takes to strangers, especially adults."
"Alright." Williams said nodding his head. "But listen you call me, right after you get where you are going. If I don't get a call from you I will call the police, understand."
"Yes, don't worry I can take care of myself." Sara said. "They said their house is in Ottery St. Catchpole. So it may be a little while before I call."
"If this does pan out you can have this week and next week off." William said.
"Thank you," Sara said. She then picked up the phone in the lounge and called the hospital. "I'm trying to reach Randall Bishop." Sara asked.
"Randall Bishop." Randall said after a moment.
"This is Sara. I have a ride home, so don't worry."
"Alright. I'll call you later."
"I may not be home for a few days. I just got a lead on my family." Sara said.
"That's great!" Randall said. "Call me when you get a chance alright. Let me know."
"I will." Sara said hanging up the phone.
Outside the door she saw the man, Percy waiting for her. "I sent Penny ahead. She's going to make sure that everything is set for you to arrive. She's going to collect your parents and everyone else. Are you ready?"
"Yes," Sara answered. Her heart had started thumping hard in her chest.
Percy grabbed the diaper bag off Sara's shoulder. "I'll take that. You can carry the boy. You named him Eric?"
"Yes," Sara answered. "Eric Harold Williams."
They took a taxi to the train station. Percy paid for two tickets to London. When they boarded the train Percy helped Sara with Eric. He seemed to be good with children.
After they pulled away from the station Sara decided to start a conversation. "Do you have kids?" Sara asked.
"Penny is working on our first, she is about to start the second trimester." Percy answered. "So you don't have any memory at all."
"None." Sara said. "The only thing I can remember is when I was found."
"Found?" Percy asked.
"A bobbie on walking patrol found me lying unconscious in an alley in the village. It was officially labeled as a robbery, since nothing had been found on me." Sara answered. "I was three months pregnant with Eric at the time."
My little nephew. Percy thought. He did not know how he could tell her that he knew who the father of her child was. He knew Ron would be happy with the idea of being a father. Had she known when she disappeared? Is that why she left? But how did she lose her memory? The questions kept pouring into his mind. He almost felt the need to invest in a pensive.
Sara continued talking about Eric. His funny words, when he first learned to walk.
The thought about finding Hermione had saddened Percy in a way. She was broken. It was like hunting for a favorite toy and finding it in shatters. He had only found a piece of what was Hermione.
"He is a great kid." Percy finally said. "Well Hermione, Sara. I'm not even to sure what I should call you."
"Hermione is fine." Sara said. "I suppose it is something that I should get used to."
"There are actually quite a few things that you should get used to." Percy said. Did he even have the right to tell her the truth?
He knew he would be careful about this. His own foolishness had nearly caused the death of his brother Bill. He did not want to cause more pain to his family by not doing this correctly and scaring Hermione away.
"There are things about you. Some of the things are hard to explain."
"Like what?" Sara asked.
"Do you know what the word Muggle is or maybe Hogwarts?"
"No," Sara said, completely unsure of where Percy was going.
"This is going to very difficult for you to understand." Percy then looked around to be sure that they were alone. "What I am about to tell may be hard to believe. But you must trust me." Percy began. "You must believe me though, you are a witch."
"I'm a what?" Sara asked shocked by the final statement.
"You are a witch. You attended a boarding school for witches and wizards called Hogwarts."
"This is insane" Sara stated suddenly fearing the man.
"I promise you this is true and there is nothing that could make me harm you or that baby. My little brother was your best friend growing up. We have been watching him die a little bit more each day since you disappeared."
Sara had to pause to regain her composure. "If what you are saying is true, can you give me something that is proof?" Sara asked.
Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a wooden stick. "This is my wand. This allows us to perform spells. See that toy Eric dropped. Accio Block."
Sara gasped as she watched the block move from the floor to Percy's outstretched hand. "How can this be true?" Sara asked. She saw it. She believed her eyes. Eric who had seen what happened was laughing about it. She had to know how far this would go.
"It's just our world. I promise you we will do everything that we can to bring your memory back."
"Can't you just do a spell?" Sara asked.
"No. I am afraid that I am not a healer. I'm actually working as a lackey for our Ministry." Percy answered. "Penny is going to bring a healer to the house to help you."
"A healer will be able to bring back my memory?" Sara asked.
"Hopefully, maybe just being around the Burrow again will help. That's what my parents named our house. You used to spend summers with us. My parents loved you like a second daughter."
"How many children did your parents have?"
"Seven total. Six boys, and one girl Ginny the baby."
"Seven," Hermione said. "That would be a big family."
"We all love each other and stand besides one another. Right now all of us are out looking for you. Bill, the oldest started looking in France and Spain."
"Doesn't seem like I was that far away." Sara said. "Guess magic doesn't make things much easier."
"Magic makes things easier and in cases harder. It can bring joy and it can bring terror." Percy said. "Professor Dumbledore said that on my very first day of school at the start of term feast. He was Headmaster, a great man. He was very forgiving."
"You got in trouble at school I take it." Sara asked.
"Not once. My younger brothers though, especially the twins. No. I did something really stupid after I left Hogwarts. Someone should have hit me over the head with a broomstick until I was a peg in the ground. When I tried to apologize, Professor Dumbledore was the only person except for my mum that would believe me when I said I was sorry."
"What did you do?" Sara asked.
"I endangered my entire family." Percy flatly answered. "I was how Ron put it 'the world's biggest prat.'"
"Ron is one of your brothers." Sara asked.
"The youngest boy. The one that you were friends with." Percy answered.
After a while the train stopped. Percy helped Sara gather her things. They stepped outside and grabbed a cab. Percy gave him some weird directions and they were off. They did not talk during the cab ride. Sara was still sinking in what she was told.
They stopped in front of an odd house. Percy paid the cab and lead Sara inside.
Sara looked at the house. Percy had mentioned magic, which what was probably the only thing holding the house up.
"Are you remembering anything?"
"No." Sara answered looking around the inside.
They went inside and saw Penny there with a woman who looked like a nurse. How did she get here so fast?
"Hello Miss Granger." The woman said. "I see you are yet again under my care."
"She still doesn't remember anything, even about being a witch." Percy said. "I only told her about Hogwarts though."
The woman appeared to ignore Percy as she looked over Sara. She pulled out what appeared to be a wand and was muttering spells at Sara, asking if any were working.
"I'm going to go look through some books I have. I will let you know shortly" Madam Pomphrey said she nodded towards Penny and disappeared with a popping sound.
Sara gasped falling backwards.
"It's alright." Percy said. "It's just called Apparation. It makes traveling a lot easier."
"You better relax for a moment. I'll take care of Eric. Molly has a playroom." Penny said taking Eric. "I told everyone to be here in an hour, so expect them in forty-five minutes."
"I don't think I can take anymore of this." Sara said. She was slumped on the couch not sure if she could move.
"Yes you can, you're a Gryffindor." Percy said. "The symbol of courage."
"What?" Sara asked.
"When a student goes to Hogwarts they place a hat on their head. The hat reads you and determines what house you belong to based upon your strength and ideals. The hat saw you as being brave so you went into Gryffindor."
"Where you in Gryffindor too?" Sara asked.
"All Weasleys go into Gryffindor." Percy answered. "Why don't you go upstairs so you can wash up? You can wait there until everyone arrives. I'll break the news to everyone and let them know about your amnesia so they won't jump on you. Penny will watch Eric so don't worry about him."
Sara nodded and went upstairs. After a bit of searching she found the loo. She splashed water onto her face and looked at the mirror. "Who am I?" She asked towards the reflection. She had no memory at all of any of this.
"You are who you are." The mirror said back.
Sara jumped back, but remembered that this was a magic house. Maybe talking mirrors weren't so bad.
She stayed in there for a while just waiting. After sometime she heard people coming into the house. Sara slowly stepped downstairs, so she would not attract attention to herself. She stayed hidden just listening.
"Okay Perce you dragged us all here what is going on?" Someone asked.
"Please, I want everyone to be here." Percy said. "Fred George, please."
Sara heard a few more people enter. She then heard several voices demanding explanations.
Ron and Harry came in together. Percy looked at Ron. Eric looked so much like him.
He tried to get them to sit down. Percy had seen the Grangers come in just behind them.
Everyone was demanding explanations right then. Even his parents weren't helping in the matter.
"Please I have something very important to tell you." Percy said. He wanted to break this gently but couldn't, he had to come out and say it. "Listen to me. We found Hermione."
The room fell silent. Every eye in the room was on Percy at that moment.
Sara heard the statement from Percy. She was surprised by the effect the statement had made on the group.
"Where is she?" Someone demanded.
"Is she alright?" A woman's crocked voice asked.
"Please listen to me." Percy said.
"Where?" A harsh voice stated.
"Right here." Sara said coming out.
How do you think Ron will react about Eric?