Author's Note
I'm sorry for the delay, I have a few chapters already finish but thankfully work has been steady, and keep me rather busy, I'm publishing the chapters I already edit, but I'm having a few mix-feelings regarding certain aspects of the story I want to tell and what JK provided, thankfully there are a lot of available holes to fill at will since neither the Granger's nor the Krum's are really developed.
As always, any comments are welcome, and I appreciate your support for any corrections...
The Date Part I – Hermione…
Hermione was nervous, she had been embarrassed while talking to her mother about something as mundane as what to wear for a date with a boy and her mother was incredibly cryptic about something, but her mother had loved the robes Mrs. Weasley had got for her on the fourth year and even keep them on Hermione's closet at home claiming what a good taste Mrs. Weasley had.
So, she took a deep breath and prepare herself for a nice long bath while waiting for her mother since she had four hours until Viktor arrived and she was glad that she no longer need three hours just to tame her hair, thanks to a few of his mother advice and a few conditioners that she gives her, her hair was more manageable now and didn't need to do that much, now the problem was her height and the curves she now possesses, she never had been a girly girl, and she had nothing in her closet that was appropriate for a city date...
Sooner than she expected her mother arrived carrying a black bag stamped with a very fancy logo...
– Hermione, honey? – her mother yell from outside of the room
– Enter mother, I'm in the bathroom. – she was brushing her hair, there were still some drops of water on it, and she was on her bathrobe.
– Darling, I purchase this for you after the picture you send me of the ball. – Hermione open the bag and look at the most stunning cocktail dress she had ever seen, and she couldn't help to notice the color been a light blue, very similar to the periwinkle-blue robs she used on the Yule Ball.
– Mom...how...when?
– I order it, during your fifth year, you send me that beautiful picture of you and Viktor on the ball and I love your robes so when you brought it home, I took it after you left and get my seamstress to do this one, I want it to give it to you as a graduation present, but...well, you erase our memories and run off to the war, – Hermione was about to cry – No, honey, I know I been mad at you for that, but only because you didn't tell us, – Jane took a deep breath, – I know we haven't told you a lot of things, we meant to but, well this magic thing throws us on a loop, that's a lame excuse, we could have told you on the Forest of Dean, when we were camping, or in France, while we were on the train, or when we were walking through Tottenham Court Road in our way to the Dominion Theater, we'll do it on Sunday, full disclosure, what I can tell you now is that we had do battle, Hermione, maybe not as big as yours, but we had, we could have understood, and went into hiding, the clinic is on good hands, and we can rebuilt it if necessary you didn't have to erase you from us, I know you were prepared to die, and you want to spare us pain and grieve but, I'm a mother, I'll always felt something missing, I look for you among crowds of people without even know what I was looking for, your father had to calm me down because I woke up screaming, but never remember the dream, I always scream 'where is she', but neither of us knew who 'she' was. I... I just don't want to lose you ok? – her mother was about to cry, – It's our fault, for not telling you about our battles, but please never run off again.
– No again mom... – Jane cleans Hermione's eyes, wet on tears.
– Good, now, – she cleans her own eyes – clean those tears, and try it on, thankfully the seamstress keeps every customer measurement on file, since I had custom-made the dress I bought you for the wedding, we had a point to start, but still, it may need some adjustments. – Her mother left the bathroom so she tried it on, and Hermione laughed a little after her mother left because she remembers the picture she was talking about...
– Hermione, darling? – Her mother yell from outside the bathroom.
– Yes, mom, I'm going out. – Her mother was seated on the bench by the window and suppresses a tear, the dress fits her like a glove.
– Is perfect, honey.
– Yeah, can you check the closet for a pair of shoes? I think I have something that maybe matches this dress...
– Absolutely not, – Hermione looks at her mother – do you really think that I was going to buy you a dress and not matching shoes? – her mother then shows her a beautiful pair of heels that fit perfectly with the dress.
Hermione was laughing at his mother's antics.
– Thanks, mom.
– No, consider it a gift, I know you're going back to school, to get your diploma or the magical equivalent, but you're a woman know, and this boy has been waiting for you, four years, so, what better night to wear this dress, you need to impress him...
– Mom...
– Relax darling, I know you two already kiss...
– Mom!
– I was young once, you know, – Hermione looks at her and blush – you look surprised, well I guess I still can traumatize you a bit... – Hermione look at her in disbelieve – you're an excellent student, always excel in math, so calculate this, you father born on '62 and I on '63, you born on '79, but we got married until '81 – Her mother slowly had been walking to the door, – do the math – she leaves the room closing the door behind her just for a second later been open by a very scandalized Hermione.
– MOM!
Jane Granger felt very well about herself, she went down the stairs and start preparing dinner, while the food heated, she let herself a moment to look around and think how far they have gone, how she and Hugh had found each other, and share a lot of good memories, picnics on the woods instead of school, hiding from her parents, that romantic trip to oxford...as always every time she remembers those beautiful memories, her mind goes to the other ones...the bad ones...
Hugh Granger had entered the house by then, he was carrying a Bird-of-paradise flower, his wife's love them, but he stops in his tracks at the sight of her, her eyes were far away, he recognized the look, it was the one of the past, her parents and their little flat were their daughter had learned to walk, he embraces by her waist when a solitary tear roll around her cheek...
– What's wrong my love? – Jane turn around in his embrace
– We need to tell her Hugh – Hugh looks at her.
– Jane...
– No, it was our fault, if we had told her, maybe she hadn't felt obliged to send us away, – Jane took a deep breath, – maybe, if she had known about our strength, our battles – Hugh hid his face on her chest, trying not to cry – It's time my love. We need to tell her everything, she will need to go there, – Hugh looks at her, – I was reviewing the mail and, the lawyer is already expecting us, we are almost a year late, I make an appointment with him for tomorrow morning, so we can tell her on Sunday, prepared her.
Hugh lifts his face and looks sadly at his wife.
– She is so young...
– She is older than us when we had her, even older than us when got married and she has gone through a lot more...my parents cut us off, we were lucky that Mrs. Long take us in, but she cut herself from us, she...she chose to leave us, to protect us, there was no loathing, it was love pure and selfless.
Hugh releases a tear from his eye...
– You're right as always my love.
– Well, that's why you marry me...
– No, that's why you marry me, I always let you win.
– More like I bend your will to my favor.
– Haha, yeah, you always manage to do that.
They share a brief kiss and look at each other in the eyes, they only look away when they hear a car parking on the sidewalk.
– Can I torture him a little bit?
– Only if you promise not to squeal if he reaches for the wand. –Hugh laugh and went to the door while Jane went upstairs...
Jane had come up to the stairs and knock at her daughter's door.
– Enter mom.
– Darling, he is here. – Jane was excited for her daughter.
– How do I look? – Hermione asks nervously.
– How do you look? you've never asked that before...
– It's just... – Hermione took the seat next to the window, and took a peek of the car Viktor had brought. – the last time he saw me, all dolled up and in a dress, it was a wedding and end up in an escape...and before that, we were walking through the gardens of Hogwarts and Professor Snape caught us... – Hermione paused and looks at her mother's embarrassed –...kissing, – Jane suppresses a laugh – and he put the fear of god in Viktor, somehow, I just, I don't want the pattern to repeat, what if the papers caught us? they are still printing that Harry and I may have an affair, I want this to be a night for us, but...
– Hey, darling, everything is going to be alright, is good to be a little nervous, God knows I was on my first date with your father... mostly because of my father – Hermione look at her, she had never told her that story, or any story – but tonight is for the both of you, to talk, clear the air, and decide together, what do you want from each other, both of you are still young, and both of you can do wherever you want – she was a little emotional, but supportive – come on, I think we can do better with your hair...
– But mom, Viktor is here already...
– Don't worry, your father said he wants a few minutes alone with him...
– Should I be nervous? – Jane laughs at this.
– No, your father is a little bit of a pacifist, he had punch people but, no, there is no reason to be nervous – Jane took her hand and guide her to the bathroom mirror, – On the other hand, you're our only daughter...
– MOM! – Jane laughs harder this time...
– Come on, let's finish your hair...
A few minutes later they walk to the hall and go down the stairs...
Viktor had his back facing the stairs, giving Hermione time to calm her nerves, and noticed that Viktor was wearing a black tuxedo, not a wizard at all... then she calls him.
– Viktor...
