Chapter 13: Breaking the Charm
"Happy Birthday Hero and Helena. Happy Birthday to you."
The off key course of twenty came to an end and the room burst into cheers as the two little girls laughed with delight, clapping their podgy hands with excitement. Hermia pressed kisses to each of her girl's bright, copper heads. "Happy Birthday, sweethearts." she ran her fingers through both Hero and Helena's smooth, springy ringlets. "Blow out the candles, darlings."
Hero and Helena looked at their mother with their heads tilted to the side as if they were contemplating her intently. Hermia chuckled as she pressed a kiss to first Hero's pudgy cheek and then Helena's. "All right, ready. One," she ticked off on her fingers, "two, three…" she took a deep breath, and the twins, as she knew they would, copied her. With cheeks still expanded with her drawn in breath, she turned toward the two cakes and released it. Being clever little girls they were, the twins caught on quickly and parted their lips releasing the air missing the cake spectacularly. Hermia laughed at their antics. "It's all right, darlings." She said wrapping an arm around each of them. "I'm sure you'll have it right next year."
"It was a fair attempt." Nate laughed, pulling one of the two matching cakes towards him so that he could begin cutting into small pieces.
"Fair? Can you name many one year olds who have mastered that much?" Lizzie pulled the other cake across to the table to sit in front of her so that she copy Nate and begin to slice into the bright white frosting. "No worries, Mia. I'll take it upon myself to make sure they've got it by next year."
"I'm sure you will." Hermia smiled before glancing at her wristwatch. "Shite." She raised to her full height. "I have to be at the hospital in half an hour."
Nate licked some pink frosting off his finger as he passed a small piece of cake to each of the twins. Hero leaned forward to inspect the pink confection while Helena's eyes lit up. She reached out instantly for the sweet treat and tried to stuff the entirety of it into her mouth. The three adults rolled their eyes and chuckled at the small girl. Helena seemed to have an insatiable appetite. She was constantly eating what ever she laid her hands on but never seemed to gain any weight.
"Don't worry Mia." Nate nudged his friend away from the table. "Lizzie and I have everything under control." Nate said as he passed a plate to Lisa who looked smugly at Andrea for having been lucky enough to receive the first piece.
"I just wanted to be here for this. They only turn one once." She pressed a kiss to each of her daughter's sticky cheeks. "You two be good." Hermia ruffled their curly hair as she rose to her feet. Whipping the frosting from her mouth with a paper napkin. "And I'm not just talking about the little girls." Hermia shot a meaningful glance at Lizzie and Nate as she deposited the dirty napkin in a waste basket.
"What?" Nate gasped, holding the spatula dramatically in front of his chest.
"You know what I'm talking about." Hermia pointed a finger at him. "Don't do anything that I wouldn't approve of."
Nate rolled his eyes dramatically. "Honey, you don't approve of anything."
Hermia threw her hands to her hips and tapped her toe rhythmically on the floor. "That's not true."
"Not true." The twins cried as they threw their hands to their hips like their mother did.
"Oh god," Nate looked at Lizzie, disgust written on his face. "There becoming more like her everyday." Lizzie bit back her laughter. Diverting her face from Hermia's narrowed gaze she continued to cut cake and hand it to her nephew. "That's it." Nate crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Mia, you have to go now so we can reverse some of the negative affects you've had on these dear, sweet children."
Hermia's lips twitched. She rolled her eyes for affect. She was far from annoyed, rather amused actually, but Nate didn't need to know that. It was comforting for her to banter with Nate like this. Almost like something she would have done before…well before.
But the strange thing was, as more time passed she cared less and worried less about what things were before. She thoroughly enjoyed the life she had now. It was nearly sixteen months since she had lost her memory and with each day that she didn't remember and each day she wasn't found by family or friends from the past, the less she cared to ever be found. She still wished to know because, well she was Hermia, and she hated not knowing things. But she no longer needed to know to lead a happy life.
"Just don't undo too much." She harrumphed as she pressed a kiss to the top of Hero's than Helena's head. She grabbed her keys off the counter and threw on her coat before waving to the rest of the room. "Have fun everyone."
"Bye, Auntie Hermia!" She could hear Jeannie's children call over the rest.
"Bye, everyone." She called back as she closed the front door, cutting her off from the noise inside.
Outside in the chilly sunshine, Hermia took a deep breath. Reaching back she bound her hair into a low ponytail before stepping off the stoop and walking briskly towards the bus stop.
Ron ran his fingers through his fiery red hair, scratching his scalp as he stared up at the hospital. He felt a heavy weight settle on his heart. He almost dreaded going inside. He knew what was going to happen once he did. He would hand the receptionist the most recent picture he had of Hermione. It was a wizard picture, which meant the figures in it liked to move when he didn't cast a spell to keep them in frozen in place. The receptionist would look at it briefly and hand it back, shaking her head and apologizing because she was either new or couldn't possible remember one person from that far back.
"You ok, Ron?" the red head looked over at Harry who was watching him with concern filled eyes.
Ron sighed heavily before bracing his shoulders, preparing himself for the inevitable disappointment. "I'm fine. Let's just get this over with." Harry nodded and the two friends entered the main entrance of the hospital.
"Do you want me to come with you to the front desk?"
Ron shook his head. "No, you can wait here."
Harry smiled gratefully at Ron. The young man with the messy black hair hated hospitals, hated them with a passion. And who could blame him? After all the times he or those he cared about had wound up in a hospital of some kind, it was understandable. Ron knew Harry tried to avoid them at all costs which was why he was so grateful to his friend for coming with him despite his obvious aversion.
Harry stopped just inside the entrance and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed at his chest. He watched Ron for a moment as he made his way to the reception desk, weaving his way through the waiting chairs. He would have watched Ron all the way to the desk but stopped halfway there when he saw a woman talking animatedly to thin air. He watched her for a good minute before he chuckled and turned away. Apparently he wasn't the only one who could see or hear things no one else could, although he felt he had on up on this woman. At least his visions could be magically explained away.
Ron arrived at the receptionist desk, the same knot of anticipation churning his stomach that always did. Leaning his hands against the counter he waited for the older receptionist to finish her task and turn her attention toward him. "Hello." She said cheerfully. "How can I help you today?"
"Well," he began tentatively. "I was wondering if you could help me." The old woman raised her left brow in question. Ron dug into his pocket and pulled a photo crinkled at the edges and corners which he immediately began to smooth away. "I know the chances are slim," he continued, "But a friend of mine disappeared over a year ago." The old woman's face lost some of its sparkle. "She was very important to me. And I was just wondering if perhaps you've seen her." He held out the photo.
The old woman's grey eyes moistened with pity. "Young man, I doubt I would remember a patient that came through here a year ago."
"Please," he held the photo out to her. "Her name is Hermione and she's the love of my life. I've been looking for her since she disappeared and… Please." He pleaded. "Just take a look."
Her old heart melting with pity the grey haired woman's face softened and tears gathered in her eyes as she reached out her hand for the photo. She could see the longing and depression in the young mans eyes. How could she not at least take a look? Her old fingers clamped on to the shiny paper and he released it. She glanced at it quickly and began to hand it back, an apology ready on her lips, when she stopped and looked at it again. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open on a gasp, one hand coming up to cover it. Hand still clamped over her mouth, her eyes darted from Ron's face then back to the picture. She did that several times, looking back and forth, before rising to her feet, finally looking away from Ron and towards the waiting room.
"Hermia!" The old woman called with a shaky voice. "Could you come over here a moment?" Ron followed the old woman's line of sight and landed on a pudgy woman sitting in a chair talking to the empty space in front of her. His eyes narrowed. Who on earth was this old woman talking to?
The grey eyed woman waited a few minutes before speaking again. "Hermia, dear. I want you to take a look at this." Ron turned his head, glancing around in confusion. The older woman turned and held the photo out. Ron's eyes widened as the photo left the old woman's hand and hovered in mid air a moment before disappearing.
Hermia gave Beatrice a questioning look as she accepted the photo. "What is it?" she asked.
"Just look." The old woman urged, tipping the picture up.
Feeling foolish Hermia looked down at the glossy print and her heart stopped in her chest. A hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God." In her hand she was holding a photo with an image of herself standing between two boys her age. The image of her slightly younger self was staring back at her with a wide grin on her face, one arm wound tightly around one of the boy's neck while the other was wrapped around the other boy's waist.
"Beatrice," Hermia looked up at the old woman, "where did you get this?"
After a few minutes silence Ron heard the old woman speak and point in his direction. "This young man says he's been looking for you."
There was a moment of realization before a sudden pain split across Ron's scull, settling behind his eyes, rendering him blind. Pressure continued to build in his brain to the point that it was excruciating and he cried out. "Harry!" he called as he fell to his knees clutching at his head. "Harry!" He called again when it felt like his very brain would explode.
Hermia knelt down beside the red haired man, "Sir?" She placed an anxious hand on his shoulder. He seemed oblivious to her touch. "Sir?" she tried again to no avail. "Beatrice get a doctor." She finally shouted, placing both hands firmly on the man's shoulders and holding him steady.
"Ron." Harry rushed through the crowded room, knocking over those waiting in his haste to get to his friend. "Are you ok?" He fell to his knees beside Ron and in the process bumped into an invisible force that nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Excuse me!" Hermia shouted as she was knocked over. She raised herself up and forcefully moved the black haired man out of her way. "What do you think you are doing?"
"W-what?" Harry fell backwards, using his hand and feet to scoot backwards away from the invisible hands that had clutched at him. "What the hell?"
"Don't swear." Hermia command instantly unaware that the black haired young man could neither see or hear her.
Ron groaned with pain, clutching his head. "Make it stop!" He screamed in agony. "Please make it stop!" And suddenly the pain ceased with a wave of dizziness and a tickling sensation at the back of his eyes forcing them close. He took several deep breaths his eyes pressed tightly together.
"Sir," Hermia placed a hand gently on the redhead's brow checking for fever, "are you all right?"
"Just give me a moment." The man pressed his large hand to his eyes, rubbing the soreness out of them. "I'll be all right."
"Ron?" Harry scooted anxiously closer to his friend. He moved slowly, worried that his friend had finally snapped, he asked in a low voice filled with unease. "Who are you talking to?"
Confident the pain and dizziness weren't going to come back Ron opened his eyes. Slowly he lifted his head and was greeted with the most beautiful sight in the world. An angel with brown bushy hair, chocolate brown eyes, a pert little nose and peach soft skin, knelt in front of him staring at him with concern.
"Hermione?" He gasped, his voice cracking with emotion. "Hermione? Is that really you?" He reached out a hand to graze her cheek.
Hermia jerked back away from his touch. Her insides were a jumble of nerves. "What did you call me?"
"Hermione." Ron reached for her hand and had to stop himself from crying out when she snatched it back.
"Ron," Harry looked between him and the open air Ron was staring into. "What are you looking at. There's nothing there."
"Harry, I swear to Merlin she's there." His blue eyes never left Hermione. "I can see her.
"My God," Harry sat back on his haunches. "She's really there, isn't she?"
"Can't you see her?" Ron motioned to the spot directly in front of him.
Harry focused his eyes on the spot where he was looking and felt the agonizing pain that had gripped Ron begin to gather behind his own eyes. He cried out in misery, clutching at his scalp.
"What is going on here?" Hermia looked between the two young men, one who was staring at her like she was an apparition and the other who was crying out in agony. She moved past the redhead and tried to examine the young man with raven black hair.
"Hermione." Ron cried out. "Don't you recognize me?" he held his hand out to her, pleading with his soft blue eyes.
"I…" the young man with the black hair grew silent; his head tilted forward much the same as his friends had been. She turned to the redhead for an explanation but when her eyes fell upon him she gasped. The eyes. His were the eyes from her dreams. All at once it all began to sink in. The photo, the name, his eyes and hair. "What did you call me?"
"Hermione."
She took a raspy breath as she sat back on her ankles. "You know who I am?" He voice grew husky with hope and emotion.
"Yes."
"Ron." Harry's hand reached out to grip his friends arm. "Am I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?" The raven haired boy was now staring at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"You see her too?"
"Yeah, I see her."
"Excuse me?" Hermia rose to her feet, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "But can someone please tell me what is going on?"
"Honey, I think you should take a look at this." Hermia turned to see Beatrice holding out the photo once again.
The young woman took the photo from Beatrice and turned it so that it was right side up. With hungry eyes she looked down at the image for a full minute before looking back at the two men staring wondrously at her.
"Where did you get this?"
"Hermione," the red haired man stepped forward, his eyes glowing with happiness, "that photo was taken five days before you disappeared."
Tears sprang to Hermia's eyes. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and gnawed on it and Ron's heart swelled with joy. He loved it when she did that.
"You really know who I am?" She asked again. "Really and truly."
"Yes." Harry stepped slightly forward, running a shaking hand through his messy black hair. "Hermione, don't you recognize us?"
She looked between the two men and the photo that was their proof that they knew her. "No." She shook her head. "I don't know who you are. I don't know who I am." She stared beseechingly at them. "What's my name? My full name?"
"You're Hermione Jane Granger." Harry took another step forward. "You're our very best friend."
Joy flashed across her face a split second before her breath began to come in short, fast pants. She covered her face with her hands. "I think I'm going to be sick." She jerked away suddenly and darted frantically for the nearest lavatory.
"Hermione!" Ron shouted, following immediately behind her. "Mione, wait."
The door to the bathroom slammed shut causing Ron to skid to a stop nearly loosing his balance and falling to the floor. Harry grabbed Ron's arm, giving it a firm jerk up to steady him. Ron flashed him a grateful grin before turning hid focus back on the closed door. From inside he heard the sound of Hermione retching into the toilet. "Mione." Ron called through the door. "Mione, are you all right?"
Together they listened to the sound of the toilet flushing, followed by water running in the faucet. Ron and Harry waited anxiously outside the door. Slowly, after what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open and one chocolate brown eye peered between the door and the frame. "I'm sorry." Ron saw her bite his lower lip and felt it again like a kick to the stomach. "I don't know what came over me. I never dreamed…I mean…" she looked brokenly to the tiled floor. "I thought no one was looking for me."
"Hermione." Ron pressed a hand to the door. "I swear. I never stopped looking for you."
"That's my name? Hermione?"
"Yeah." Ron nodded happy tears spilling silently from his eyes. "Hermione Jane Granger."
"Are you sure I'm the girl you're looking for? I mean, absolutely sure?"
Harry and Ron both broke into broad grins. "There's no doubt in my mind." Ron pushed gently on the door, forcing it open so he could see all of her. "I would know that face anywhere."
Hermia nodded and stepped out of the bathroom taking a good look at the two men standing there. "I don't know what to say." She began.
"Hermia dear, are you all right?" Beatrice shoved her way between Ron and Harry so that she could take cold of the young girl's hands, making sure for herself that the nurse she and all the others in the hospital had come to adore was all right.
"Beatrice," Hermia said staring at the head nurse in a strange sort of daze, "These two men know who I am."
"That's wonderful dear." The old nurse patted the young girl's hand with elation.
Hermione licked her bottom lip. "Do you think I could…?"
"Don't say another word." Beatrice held up a weathered hand. "Why don't you take the rest of the week off?"
"Beatrice, I can't take the rest of the week off. You're short handed as it is I need to get my hours in before the end of next month."
"I'm sure Lizzie or Nate or any of the other nurses would be willing to cover for you and as for getting all you time in, the last time I checked you had already completed the necessary rounds and hours. You're a glutton for punishment, I always said."
The brown haired girl smiled thankfully. "Thank you, Bea."
"Think nothing of it, Honey." Beatrice patted her cheek affectionately. "Now go figure out who you are. And don't come back until you have all the answers you need."
Hermia nodded. "Thank you." She turned back to the two men whose eyes she knew hadn't left her during the entire dialogue. It was as if they looked away they feared she would vanish on them. "Will you wait a moment while I go get my purse?"
The two men nodded eagerly and watched her rush down the hall and disappear behind a door that read Staff Lounge in bold white letters on a black, lacquered plaque. They turned back to each other and with triumphant shouts threw there arms around the other, hugging fiercely.
"We found her, Harry." Ron cried jubilantly. "We found her."
"I know." Harry thumped his back before pulling away. "I have to say it Ron, I wasn't sure…"
"Neither was I. But we did it."
"Yeah" Harry agreed excitedly, "we did it."
"So," Beatrice raised her voice to command their attention. "You two know who my Hermia is?" They nodded hesitantly. "Let me tell you. If you do anything to hurt that girl…there will be hell to pay. Everyone here loves that girl. So you had better not be messing with her. If this is some sick joke…"
"We have no intention of hurting her ma'am." Harry assured her. "We just want to bring her home. I swear."
"Good." Beatrice looked between the two young men again. Her eyes narrowed on Ron and he squirmed uncomfortably. "You," she pointed her finger at him. "You love her don't you?"
Ron's mouth dropped, "What? How? Why would you think that?"
The woman shrugged one arthritic shriveled shoulder. "I have my ways." Harry and Ron shared a look. "Ah, Hermia. You're back." The two boys spun around excitedly and the smiles reappeared on their faces. Hermia stopped suddenly when she fell under the affect of the redhead's lopsided grin. It hit her like a shock to the chest, nearly making her stumble back from the force of it.
She licked her lips which had suddenly gone very dry. "Are you two ready?"
"You have no idea." Harry said extending her his arm. For a moment she looked like she was about to take it but hesitated.
"Before I go anywhere with you," she cast a worried glance between the two men, "would you mind telling me what you're names are?"
"Oh course," Harry offered his hand. "I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
"And I," Ron said, taking her hand tenderly in his, "am Ronald Weasley. But everyone calls me Ron."
"Ron and Harry." Hermione extracted her hand. "I feel so stupid." She smiled wistfully. "You say you're my best friends and I don't even know your names."
"It's all right, Mione." Ron stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and instantly felt his hand start to tingle. "We understand. We've almost been expecting it."
"Do you? Because I don't. I don't understand any of it. What happened to me?"
Harry shook his head. "We don't know. You disappeared almost two years ago without a trace. Ron and I have been looking for you ever since."
"Don't worry, Mione." Ron soothed, taking up her hand again, unable to help himself. "We're going to figure out what happened to you."
The brown haired girl looked up into the tall man's face and felt herself get lost in his brilliant blue eyes. Ron too was caught, unable to look away. His heart soared. That was undeniably Hermione staring back at him through those eyes.
"Is there somewhere we can go and talk?" Harry's voice broke through their senses and snapped both Ron and Hermione back to reality. She looked away embarrassed, trying to gain control over her pulse which had taken off at a frantic beat while she looked at the tall one.
"Um," Hermia shook her head slightly. "How about this coffee shop I know in town?"
"That sounds brilliant." Harry took a step towards the door but stopped when he felt Hermione's hand grip his arm.
"Wait." Her eyes widened with concern. "We should have your heads checked out before we leave."
"Why?" Ron looked at her in confusion.
"Because you both collapsed on the floor in pain." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, which to a Muggle, he realized, it would have been.
"Oh." The two boys shared a look over the girl's head. "That won't be necessary." Ron said taking her arm and tugging her towards the door.
"But what if it's something serious?" She asked, digging her tennis shoe clad feet into the floor to halt their progress. "You should have it checked."
"Seriously, Hermione." Ron assured her. "There's nothing wrong with either Harry or I."
"But I saw…"
"Hermione," Ron cut her off. "I'll explain it to you latter. I promise."
Hermia pursed her lips. "Well, if you're certain you don't need attention."
"We're positive." Harry chimed in, taking her other arm and tugging her towards the door.
Hermia looked between the two friends as they drew her towards the door. "You two are so stubborn. I can't imagine why I would ever become friends with either of you."
Ron and Harry looked down at her, then at each other before they burst out laughing.
The girl who all the nurses and doctors knew as Hermia pursed her lips as they continued to steer her toward the door. "May I ask another question?"
"Of course." Harry nodded. "You can ask anything you want."
"You said you were almost expecting me not to have my memory." Harry nodded to confirm her statement. "Why is that?"
"Because." Ron shrugged, drawing her attention away from the raven haired man. "You're Hermione. And nothing else, short of death, would have kept you away otherwise."
