The final Quidditch game of the season, Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw, came shortly before the end of term. Gryffindor was favored to win, since they'd won both their matches and Ravenclaw had beaten only Hufflepuff. Geoffrey sat in the stands between Hermione and a quiet Gryffindor boy named Neville Longbottom, swallowing his natural distaste for Gryffindor to cheer along with them.
It was a close match. Both Ron and the Ravenclaw keeper, Terry Boot, managed to fend off the majority of the opposing teams goal attempts, so the score was a nearly even 40 to 30 in favor of Ravenclaw when Cho Chang dove for the snitch. Cho's Comet 260 was no match for Harry's Firebolt, however, so he quickly overtook her and soon the match and the Quidditch Cup was Gryffindor's.
The House Cup also went to Gryffindor, and so the end-of-year party became a two-fold Gryffindor celebration. Geoffrey found the music a little jarring, as the popular music of his future differed greatly from that in his own time, but was enjoying the party immensely. After the meal, which Geoffrey ate with his own House, Ron and Harry waved for him to come join their group. The boys' conversation was swamped with Quidditch talk, while most of the girls were discussing music and fashion. Hermione, Geoffrey noted, seemed a bit bored and not particularly interested in either conversation.
After about a half hour, Geoffrey stood. "I'm going to get some more punch, does anyone want anything?"
About six people answered in the affirmative, and then Hermione stood also. "I'll help you fetch it." The two of them walked across to where the refreshments were served.
"So, how do you think you did on your arithmancy final? I wasn't sure about question four but other than that I think I did well." Geoffrey broke the silence as he began pouring glasses of punch.
Hermione's eyes lit up as she nodded. "Question four was tough. If I hadn't decided at the last minute to get one more Arithmancy text from the library I would have missed it. The answer was clearly delineated in Merriweather's Advanced Arithmantic Theory."
"I thought it might have something to do with limits," began Geoffrey as he handed her two glasses of punch to hold, but then Hermione interrupted.
"Yes, exactly! Merriweather hypothesized that if you calculated the limit of each factor in the equation divided by the next, you would eventually result in a series of numbers, which added together, could be used for a Briar-Thorn analysis."
Geoffrey marveled at just how fast Hermione could talk when she really liked the subject matter. The two of them just stood there, by the refreshments table, rehashing their exam experience, for more than a few minutes. Periodically Geoffrey noticed that Harry would look over towards them as if wondering what was taking them so long.
Geoffrey was reluctant to curtail their conversation, but eventually decided he must. They did, after all, have drinks to deliver.
"Hermione, we should probably take these back to the table. Before the natives start getting restless or something."
Hermione's face flushed and she looked down at the glasses she'd been holding all this time. Geoffrey thought he detected a flicker of disappointment when she replied, "Yes. I suppose you're right."
They loaded up two trays with the glasses and carried them carefully back to the table.
"We thought we were going to have to send a search party after you," joked Ron as Hermione handed him his punch.
"Sorry, we were just talking about our exams and got a little carried away," Hermione apologized as she gave Lavender the other glass and sat down again.
Ron grimaced. "In that case, you can stay away as long as you like! Sorry, love, but it is rather tiresome to relive each and every question on our exams."
"Well, Geoffrey doesn't seem to mind," snapped Hermione.
Geoffrey held his breath. If he were Ron, he'd be royally annoyed at having his girlfriend compare him to another boy.
But Ron was apparently made of sterner stuff. "Well, that's because Geoffrey's nearly as big a swot as you are. No offense, Geoffrey."
"None taken." Geoffrey smiled serenely, waiting for Hermione's reaction. Normally, he'd take offense at being so addressed, but he was willing to overlook his own pride for the sake of the greater good.
"A swot? That's how you think of me? Well, I'm sorry to bother you with my annoying swotty presence then." Hermione kicked her chair back from the table and stormed off. After a moment, and at Harry's urging, Ron took off after her.
Geoffrey noticed Harry looking oddly at him. He commented nonchalantly, "He probably shouldn't have said that."
"No, but she'll forgive him. She always does," Harry said pointedly.
"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about," remarked Geoffrey. "True love will always prevail, of course." That Geoffrey was certain Hermione did not truly love Ron, he chose not to say.
"Yes, it does," insisted Harry. Then Seamus Finnegan suggested a game of exploding snap, and the conversation turned to less touchy subjects.
The journey to King's Cross on the Hogwarts Express was largely uneventful. Geoffrey had been invited to sit with Justin, Ernie, and Hannah, and thus had not been able to determine whether Hermione was still upset with Ron over his comments the previous evening. He fervently hoped he'd have a chance to say his goodbyes before her parents and whoever Dumbledore had tasked to masquerade as his mother arrived. Even more so, he hoped he would be able to see her alone.
When the train arrived, Geoffrey made his goodbyes with his housemates as quickly as possible then hurried out to see if he could find Hermione. He soon spotted her amongst a gaggle of red-heads whom he assumed were Weasleys. Geoffrey watched as Ron pulled Hermione into an embrace and gave her a solid snog right in front of everyone. He grinned to himself as Hermione pulled back, chiding him for the public display. Then, the Weasleys were off and Hermione began looking around, most likely to locate her own parents.
Geoffrey started to move toward her when her eyes met his. She smiled and began heading toward him as well. They stood awkwardly silent for a few moments when they reached each other.
"No sign of your parents?" asked Geoffrey. Despite his concern that he find her, he'd forgotten to plan what he would say once he did.
"Not yet. They're probably just caught in traffic. They can't take the floo, you see, and it's a long drive from Swindon." Hermione stared up at him. There was a pregnant pause. "And you?"
Geoffrey shrugged. "Dumbledore said to just wait here until I'm collected, that I would know it when it happened. So we might as well keep each other company until they get here."
"All right."
Hermione was rarely this silent unless she was studying. Geoffrey found it a bit disconcerting. So he asked what was on his mind. "Everything all right with Ron now?"
"What? Oh, yes," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I think he doesn't realize what he says, but he means well. But it's all straightened out now."
"Good." Damn.
"Geoffrey Alexander Horton! I swear, you've grown two inches since I last saw you!" A middle-aged woman with curly black hair wearing a set of worn purple robes was racing toward them, nearly tripping over the hems as she ran across the platform. "Come give your old mum a hug!"
Geoffrey found himself swept up into the woman's enthusiastic embrace. He didn't have to feign discomfort with her exuberance as he pulled back after a moment. "Mum, please! You're embarrassing me."
"Nonsense, nothing embarrassing about showing proper love and respect to one's parents. Oh, I'm so glad to see you again, dear. And who is this lovely young girl, Geoffrey? I'm sure you didn't mention her in your letters?" Unless Geoffrey was mistaken, his 'Mum' winked at Hermione.
"Um, Mum, this is Hermione Granger and Hermione, this is my mother." Geoffrey began the introductions but the other woman broke in, pumping Hermione's hand with vigor.
"Margery Horton, at your service. I'm glad to see my Geoffrey's made such nice friends at Hogwarts." The woman winked again.
"Tonks?" whispered Hermione.
"Wotcher, Hermione," his 'Mum' whispered back before reverting to her original volume. "So pleased to make yer acquaintance. Geoffrey, you should invite this nice young lady to come visit us this summer!"
Geoffrey glanced at Hermione, who gave him a tiny nod of assurance. Apparently his 'mum' was legitimate.
"Yes, yes I should," replied Geoffrey. He turned to Hermione. "Write me?"
"Of course," she promised with a smile. Then her expression changed, becoming more serious. "Good luck with everything."
"Thanks." They stood staring at each other for a few moments. Geoffrey wondered if he should hug her. He didn't dare, much as he wanted to.
Just as he was about to turn away, Hermione stretched up on tiptoes to put her arms around his neck and plant a kiss on his cheek. "See you in September."
"Bye." That was all Geoffrey could manage through his elation. He watched as Hermione headed away and began moving quickly to a muggle couple that was waving to get her attention.
He turned back to his 'Mum', who grinned slyly at him and then turned toward the barrier that formed the gateway out of Platform 9 and ¾. "Come along now, dear. We'd best be getting home, it's nearly time for supper."
Geoffrey followed the older woman as they exited the train station and descended the long moving stairway to the Underground. His 'mum' was talking a mile a minute, regaling him with what must be totally fictional tales of the goings-on at the Horton residence in his absence. His 'mum' had found a nice flat, not fancy, mind ye, but just large enough and at the right price. She'd gotten halfway through the story of her next door neighbor and her rather nosy kneazle when they exited at Finchley Road. "This way, dear, to the floo."
Does she ever shut up, wondered Geoffrey as they bustled down the main street and then down a narrow sidestreet. After several more turns they ended up in a row of houses. His 'mum' went to one of the doors and unlocked it with a muggle key. Once they were both inside, she stopped speaking mid-narrative.
"All right then. I'm sure now that we haven't been followed. Sorry about the gab, I just remember how my own mum would go on and on when she used to collect me from the Hogwarts Express and so I decided to play the mum that way. I usually don't talk nearly that much but I'm doing it again right now, aren't I."
As she was speaking, the woman's appearance began to change. The wrinkles around her eyes and mouth smoothed and disappeared. Her skin lightened, her nose shrank to a pert button. And her hair became shorter. And straighter. And pink?
"Auror Tonks, at your service! Well, at Professor Dumbledore's service anyway. You must be awfully important for him to insist on such subterfuge in transporting you from school. Good thing that no one was scheduled to use this floo today, isn't it."
"How the hell did you do that? You can't just turn off the effects of polyjuice at will. Or at least, I didn't think you could?" Geoffrey was fascinated by the implications of what he'd seen.
Tonks laughed, shaking her head. "No, it's not polyjuice. It's just me. I'm a metamorphagus. I can --"
"You can change your appearance at will. Of course. I should have guessed." Next question. "Where are we? I thought I was supposed to go to my – to Snape Village."
"Oh, yes, that's where we're going. Professor Dumbledore thought it would be best though if no one knew that was where you were headed. He didn't tell me anything more, just that it was 'very important.'" She made little quotation marks with her fingers as she imitated his voice. "You know Professor Dumbledore, he likes to be secretive and mysteeeerious."
Geoffrey decided he liked Tonks. Anyone who could poke fun at Dumbledore was all right in his book.
"So anyway this here's a Ministry floo. We Aurors have them scattered all about the city, in places where it might not be convenient to apparate. No one was scheduled to use this one today, so I thought I'd take advantage of that." Geoffrey noticed that sure enough, there was a large fireplace in the room. "Speaking of floo, we should be going. Are you ready?"
"Sure." It wasn't as if he had anything else to do.
"Alrighty then," Tonks seamlessly shifted back into her 'mum' appearance and grabbed a handful of powder from a cloth bag on the mantle. She tossed it in the fireplace before stepping in. "Whistling Snitch."
Tonks was waiting for him at the other side when he arrived a few moments later. They exited the pub under a couple curious stares. Neither spoke until they were outside again.
"Excellent. Now let's deliver you to your new employer. I've got the directions right here," she mumbled, digging in her pockets.
Employer? Oh, yes, he'd almost forgotten he would ostensibly be 'working for' his mother for the summer. "That's all right, I know the way. I can find it from here."
"Oh no you don't! Professor Dumbledore said I was to deliver you to the door, and so there's no reason I shouldn't do that." She pulled out a tiny folded scrap of parchment. "This way!"
Geoffrey rolled his eyes in amusement as the auror led him to his own house. It looked much the same as always, except a lot more run down. The sign on the shop downstairs read "Closed" so Geoffrey suggested they go up the back way to see if anyone was at home.
As they climbed the familiar stone stairs, Geoffrey felt his heart pounding as the enormity of what he was about to do sunk in. He was about to see his mother – a mother twenty years older than she was when he'd seen her a month ago. It was a hard concept to grasp, even given the bizarreness of his
current situation.
Tonks knocked firmly on the door, and they waited. It was nearly a full minute before the door opened and there she was. She looks like she's aged fifty years, thought Geoffrey, not twenty. He was about to greet her in his normal way, but then realized that Tonks probably didn't know this was his actually his mother. Luckily, his mother saved him by speaking first.
She had apparently been well rehearsed. "Ah, Geoffrey, Mrs. Horton. Welcome, please do come in."
"Thank you very much for accompanying Geoffrey here, Mrs. Horton. I'm afraid I'm not up to flooing much any more. Can I offer you a cup of tea before you go?"
"Why thank you, tea would be lovely." Geoffrey and Tonks sat down on the sofa while his Mum went to fetch tea. "I'll just stay awhile, Geoffrey, in case someone is watching. Not that I think anyone is, of course."
His mother returned with the tea, and the three of them made small talk for what seemed like a very long and strained half hour. Geoffrey kept noticing his mother staring longingly at him, as if it were physically hurting her not to acknowledge him as her son.
"Well, I think the coast is probably clear now. I'd better be on my way." Tonks turned toward the door then stopped, pulling a scroll out of her pocket. "Oh, I almost forgot. This is for you. From Professor Dumbledore."
Geoffrey accepted the scroll. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. You have a lovely summer, and I'll be here to collect you to take you back to Kings Cross on September first at half past nine." She shook Geoffrey's hand enthusiastically and then departed, leaving Geoffrey and his mother alone.
They stood, looking at each other a moment, before she reached out to cup his face. "They told me you'd look different. But your eyes are just the same. Your beautiful, black eyes. When you died I thought I'd never see them again, but here you are. Oh, Severus, I've missed you so much."
And then she wrapped her arms around him and burst into tears. Geoffrey patted her on the back, both moved and embarrassed at the same time. Even though he loved his mum, he'd always been somewhat uncomfortable with her occasional excessive displays of affection. But he figured that coming back from the dead probably warranted some measure of weepiness, so he accepted her embrace. "Well, I'm here now. I'll be here all summer."
"Yes, of course, I'm sorry for being in such a state. It's just, well, I'm so happy to see you again. Oh, but you must be starving! We should eat, I've got a chicken in the oven."
It was just like his mother to use food to diffuse a tense situation, Geoffrey realized with a grin. "That sounds great, Mum."
During the meal his mum regaled him with questions about his time in Hogwarts present and whether they'd made any progress with the prophecy. He told her about playing on the Quidditch team, and about their theory on how to break Voldemort's connection with Harry. When he came to the part about teaching Harry occlumency though he saw his mum had started to tear up again and his words tapered off.
"I wish I could have protected you from him, Severus. A day doesn't go by that I don't regret what he did to you," she sniffled.
"It's not your fault," Geoffrey insisted, uncomfortable with her guilt. "You couldn't have stopped him. Besides, he did worse to you!"
His mum looked back at him with tortured eyes. "But I was an adult. I married him. I made a choice. But you, you didn't choose to be born. No child should ever be made to suffer by their parents."
"Look, it's not your fault," he repeated angrily. "What's done is done. He can't hurt you any more and if I have anything to say about it he won't hurt me anymore either. He's dead now, right?"
"Yes. He's dead now," she whispered.
"How did the bastard die, anyway? I hope the fucker suffered."
"Severus! Language! He…" she paused, looking pained. "He fell down the stairs. Broke his neck."
"What? How does a wizard break his neck falling down the stairs?" Everyone knew that wizards just didn't die that way, their magic protects them from such mundane injuries.
"He… he wasn't himself. I'm sorry, Severus, but I just can't say any more. I'm not supposed to tell you about your future and frankly I don't want to discuss him anymore. The less said about him the better." The meal was concluded in silence.
After his mother had gone to bed, Geoffrey unrolled the parchment from the Headmaster.
"Severus,
Your training will begin Tuesday at Eight o'Clock P.M.
Floo to Hogwarts as you did before.
Your instructor will meet you in the Defense Against the
Dark Arts classroom.
Do not be late.
A. P. W. B. Dumbledore"