The Awakening
Hermione poked a large diamond stud into her earlobe. It had been a year since she last wore earrings and she was shocked that the holes had not grown in. She applied mascara to her eyes, amazed at her inability to keep her mouth closed. It had been a week since Ron first opened his eyes. It was a false alarm. He was still as unconscious as ever. Just his eyes were open. He closed them again a few seconds later. Aila was devastated. She thought he would finally be able to tell her he would be okay.
After one day Hilary was released from her bed and Hermione left. She had a date with Joshua. Their last date had been shortly before Hermione had left for Hogwarts and all they talked about was Hilary. He was so supportive of her being a mother. It was so sweet. Maybe she was falling in love with him.
There was one teensy problem. Every time she thought about Joshua, she saw Ron lying in his hospital bed, broken and alone. 'I am over him' she would say over and over to herself.
She smoothed out her dress robes, grabbed her purse and apparated to Joshua's house.
OoOO00OOoO
Aila sat by her father's bed, waiting for any sign of life. She felt much better knowing her sister was there to comfort her. Dad had opened his eyes twice after he had the first time, but all those times were the same as the first, a big letdown. Mum had said she'd come back after her date, and Aila couldn't wait. She wanted her mother to be there when his eyes opened when he was awake, when he was back to the normal dad.
Hilary was asleep in her chair, snoring quietly to herself. She had not slept since she was released and needed more rest according to the healer. Apparently she was still in an emotional state and sleep would do her good.
A healer walked in to check on dad, she did little spells and checked his heartbeat. "I have good news Aila," she said quietly, trying not to disturb Hilary, "He should wake up soon. The potion is wearing off and his heart rate is up." She smiled kindly at Aila and patted her back.
This news made Aila nervous. How soon was 'soon'? Within the hour? Tomorrow? Tonight? And what would he be like? Would he be the same? Would he be in pain? Would he have any brain damage? She stared at her father and wanted to scream at him to wake up, to end her misery.
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Hermione sat at Joshua's table. They were having dinner at home. It was cheaper, and more intimate. And Joshua had control over what into his food. One time he had an allergic reaction and his whole face swelled up. Hermione loved that memory. He had looked like the little character off of the 'Peanuts" Comics. He looked like Charlie Brown, a big round head non-proportional to his body.
He was making a stew for their dinner. "Smells wonderful, Honey!" she called from her seat at the table, "I guess I hit jackpot. I got a man who can cook! My ex –husband couldn't even make a sandwich!"
"Do you have any idea how much you talk about that ex-husband of yours?" he asked sweetly setting a bowl in front of her then sitting across from her.
Hermione smiled at him, "I gave thirteen years of my life to him. School, dating and marriage. It all adds up."
"Yes, but it has been eleven years since you've seen him. Why bring up old news?" He smiled at her as if he was making a sensible point.
Hermione grinned uncomfortably, "Well, I've lately been reacquainted with him." She said casually as if talking about the weather. Joshua stared at her, looking a bit confused. She looked away then looked back, "Did I ever mention that Hilary was a twin?"
He gave her an odd look then set his attention back to his soup, "No, you forgot to mention that." Then he looked her in the eye, "Slipped your mind I assume. Didn't it?"
"Not exactly. I thought that if you found out, you would think that I would get back together with Ron, and then get jealous, I was thinking about you. I mean. I don't know. I..I.. I just wanted to keep my ex-husband's life and yours separate. I mean.. I.."
He shook his head "It's okay. You are divorced you're not about to go back." She grinned uncomfortably at him as another picture of Ron popped up in her head.
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He was in a dark tunnel, traveling very fast. He could see light ahead of him, but could never reach it. He reached out his hand he was almost there. Just not close enough. It wasn't death, he knew that much. It was.. Life of some sort. But he was confused. He felt a little lost, and very alone.
Suddenly he stopped moving. He was at the end of the tunnel. And he was at a bay. He obviously had two choices. Jump into the water or stay alone in the tunnel. He closed his eyes and jumped. As soon as his toe touched the water he was no longer at the bay. He was in a strange room with two little, freckly, girls with long red hair and big brown eyes. But who were they? And where, and who, was he?
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Hermione was halfway through her stew when an owl began to tap on the window of Joshua's house. "Bloody Hell." He muttered, obviously aggravated by the petty disturbance. He opened the window and tried to grab the letter from the owl's leg, but the owl didn't hold out his leg, he flew to Hermione.
Joshua looked at her, a bit annoyed, and she gave a nervous smile. "It's from my daughter, and I think I need to read it."
He grunted and let the owl back out the window it came from. "What does it say?"
She stared at the words, and couldn't decide if she were happy or sad. "She needs me." Hermione said quietly. Then without an explanation she got up and apparated to St. Mungos.
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Hilary sat in her seat, hoping her mother would come soon. In her letter she sent to her mother, she only said "Dad's awake, please come SOON." She hoped it wasn't inconvenient for her but she needed her mother at a time like this. And Aila needed someone older than her to talk to.
Their father had woken up, but he didn't remember anything. He only knew that he was in a bed, and his head hurt. Hilary could see that Aila was not taking this well. She was given a sleeping draught, like they had for Hilary, so now Hilary was here alone. Talking to a man who knew nothing. So far he had figured out that he was in a hospital and that a bus hit him. He had two daughters, and that the things by his bed were flowers. She hadn't bothered to explain that he had divorced his first wife and was at the moment completely alone except for his two daughters who are currently at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, and that only one of his daughters actually live with him. She decided she would save that explanation for her mother. If she ever got here.
Two hours later Mamma rushed in the door, wearing a fancy dress, and for once, a pair of earrings. "I'm sorry I took so long, you never told me he switched rooms, and there was a long line at the open desk. Apparently a singer from "Apparitions" fell off of the stage at a concert and fans, just want to wish him well."
Dad sat up and smiled, "Who are you?"
Hilary leaned over, "He doesn't remember anything." She whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
She just smiled at Dad, and sat at the edge of his bed. "Um, I'm your…wife."
"Wow!" he said happily, "Two kids and a wife all in the same day! I'm the luckiest man in the world! I think." Then he leaned back and smiled "Give the hubby a kiss why dontcha?" mamma smiled leaned over and lightly pecked him on his overly-puckered lips.