Hermione had considered her nineteenth birthday unsurpassable: the war was over, she and Ron were a couple at last, and her friends all celebrated together. But one year on, she could see how dissatisfactory it had been. She'd celebrated it at Hogwarts, which meant her parents weren't there, and she didn't even ring them. Harry, who was plainly unhappy in the Auror training programme, clung desperately to Ginny, and even though Ron and Hermione had privacy in her Head Girl quarters, they barely touched each other that weekend. And of course they were all still grieving.

What a difference a year makes, she thought with pleasure. The party at Grimmauld Place was far more enjoyable than her Hogwarts gathering had been, in part because their grief had eased, and also because the venue hadn't hosted a deadly battle just months earlier. Harry's hospitality was overwhelming, with Kreacher's cooking and the abundance of flowers, and both he and Ginny seemed much happier apart. New friends were present, including Annie, Ginny and Harry's new partners, and several other people she'd met through Ryan.

Afterwards, she and Ryan returned to his flat and made much better use of their privacy than she and Ron had done a year earlier, and the next morning he served her tea and pastries in bed. She didn't ring her parents, but only because she was to see them that afternoon, following brunch with Walter and Lucinda. And then they'd drive together to visit her grandparents, whom she'd once despaired of seeing again.

But the biggest difference between Hermione's nineteenth and twentieth birthdays had nothing to do with her improved circumstances. She couldn't explain it, but something remarkable had happened in July during that strange conversation with Luna, just hours after her disastrous meeting at Gringotts. She could still remember how it felt when her mind expanded and she caught a glimpse of her own true nature. I don't exist, she realised, and it was unbelievably freeing. I'm just an elaboration, and it's perfect.

Hermione could no longer see what she'd glimpsed that evening—she felt like Hermione again, and not like a mere elaboration. But it had changed her somehow, and things that had once upset her no longer seemed to matter. Not everything, of course—she still got rattled by any number of things. But they weren't as sticky as they once were, and she was able to let go of irritation much more easily.

It was ironic, she realised, that her breakthrough wouldn't have happened if Ron hadn't broken her heart days earlier. I thought I was the clever one, but Ron was clearly a genius for ending things. In hindsight, she suspected their lack of sexual chemistry had heavily influenced his decision, and she was embarrassed not to have noticed his frustration. Poor Ron, she thought. I hope he doesn't take it personally that I can't keep my hands off Ryan in public.

And now she had Light magic. It was hard to control, but at least it was easier to hide than Harry's—she'd worked out a secondary hair charm that concealed it completely. But she preferred not to hide it, since Ryan loved seeing her hair spark, and so did she.

Hermione had been startled, however, by the strong resonance she and Harry had twice experienced the night before. At first it was sweet, when he started glowing in response to her sparks, but when she uncharmed her hair and he blurted out that he loved her, she felt a surge of panic from Ryan. She quickly reassured him, and fortunately Harry turned his attention to Alex, whom he clearly adored. But Hermione was unpleasantly reminded of Ron's old jealousy.

Ryan even asked if he should be jealous, but she wholeheartedly reassured him that she was his, and there was no further mention of Harry that night. And she didn't even want Harry—he was far too immature, and his roving eye would be too great a challenge. Ryan, by contrast, was as solid as the earth, and completely devoted to her. And even though she and Ryan were both famous, they attracted far less attention than Harry, who could scarcely go out in public anymore.

She'd read a lot about Light magic and learnt that glowing was the best-known manifestation, but it wasn't necessarily the most common. Poor Harry, she thought. Naturally he gets the version that attracts the most attention. Then again, he seemed to enjoy attention more than he used to, probably because it was no longer all about Voldemort. But she worried that people were starting to forget the Harry she knew, who was selflessly devoted to protecting others, even at the cost of his life.

Ryan seemed to have forgotten, at least in part. He constantly praised Hermione as the driving force behind Voldemort's defeat—the queen to Harry's knight. He also considered Harry immature, which Hermione couldn't really dispute. But he liked Harry and was hugely grateful for his service during the war, although he expressed longing for the story to be retold with Hermione at the centre.

'Ryan, that's complete nonsense,' she told him. 'I can't share the details, since they're classified, but Harry was definitely the central figure. For heaven's sake, there was a prophecy about him!'

'There might have been a prophecy about you,' he argued. 'It would explain why you were sent to Hogwarts.'

Hermione had never told Ryan what Alistair had said, that she and Harry were deeply connected by numerous life debts, spanning multiple lifetimes. And she didn't believe it herself, since she had no proof for past or future lives. But she couldn't deny they were strongly linked, and that mysterious forces may indeed have drawn them together.

'Did you put the second charm on your hair?' asked Ryan as they prepared to visit his parents.

'Yes, I'm completely spark-proof. In fact, I'm out of my mind with Light magic right now but you can't see it.'

'Really?' he asked, approaching her.

'No, I was joking. But I'll kiss you anyway,' she said, standing on her tiptoes until he lifted her into his arms. 'Did I mention this is the best birthday ever?'

'Yes, more than once,' he said, setting her down. They Apparated to his parents' house, where they were greeted by Walter, Lucinda, and an extremely boisterous bloodhound.

'How is Lucifer today?' asked Hermione.

'Full of energy as always, but that's puppyhood for you,' said Lucinda. 'Fortunately he's inclined to obey me, so I'm starting to work on commands.'

'Will it just be the usual commands, or do you have special ones in mind?'

'I'm teaching him the usual ones first, but then I'll teach him diagnostic skills, which I ultimately want to convey wordlessly.'

'Is that possible with a dog?' exclaimed Hermione.

'Yes, of course—it's just a variant on Legilimency. In fact it's easier with dogs, since their minds are more simple than ours.'

'Are you proficient in the mind arts?'

'She was born proficient in the mind arts,' declared Walter.

'That's not true at all,' said Lucinda. 'My mind is a constant jumble of thoughts and ideas, but I've learnt to subdue it when necessary.'

'Would you be willing to teach me Occlumency?' asked Hermione. 'I'm getting nowhere with Harry's instructions, which even he doesn't follow.'

'Yes, I'd be glad to. And besides, I suspect our minds are wired similarly.'

She and Ryan went straight to her parents' house after brunch, and a 'Happy Birthday' banner hung from the ceiling across from the fireplace. 'Is that you, Hermione?' came her father's voice, and he poked his head into the lounge.

'You're wearing a party hat!' exclaimed Hermione with delight.

Her mother emerged and was also wearing a hat. 'Happy birthday, sweetheart!' she said, and Hermione hugged them both.

'I know the hats are a bit juvenile,' said Daniel, 'but we haven't celebrated a birthday with you since you turned eleven.'

'No, this is perfect,' said Hermione, deeply touched. 'Why in heaven's name didn't I come see you last year? Minerva would have permitted it.'

'You said you were too busy as Head Girl,' Emily reminded her.

'I suppose I was, but I could have stolen away for half an hour. I'm so sorry, Mum.'

Emily hugged her again. 'It's all right. We were still getting used to everything last year.'

They dropped the subject, but Hermione felt a familiar wave of relief. Over the last few months, she and her parents had revisited numerous memories of estrangement, and even though Hermione was always ashamed of her past behaviour, it felt good to set things right.

Daniel and Emily thrust wrapped presents at her, which she opened with childlike excitement. 'Did Ryan help you with these?' she asked suspiciously.

'Of course not,' said Daniel. 'I rang Waterstone's last week and ordered Advanced Topics in Light Spellcrafting and The Light Potioneer. And your mother bought the Atlantean pine resin from our dental distributor. But don't tell Nan, because she's still upset we only gave her domestic pine resin last Christmas.'

'You're joking, right?'

'Yes,' he replied. 'That was your other gift—an unfunny dad joke.'

She laughed and hugged him again before bringing the presents up to her room. Ryan stayed downstairs but his poster was on her wall, and she smiled when he flew past in bright orange robes. On the shelf underneath was Harry's figurine, who waved at her, and she patted his untidy hair with her fingertip.

They drove together to her grandparents' house, and although it was disappointing not to sit next to Ryan, who was too tall for the back seat, she was happy to have her mother by her side. 'Have you told Nan and Grandpa anything else about Ryan?'

'No,' replied Emily. 'I wasn't certain about his cover story so I only repeated what you already told them. But of course I've spoken highly of him, and Nan in particular wants to know his life story.'

'Ryan, are you prepared?' asked Daniel.

'Yes, I know it as well as my actual life story,' said Ryan. 'If I ever experience a blow to the head I could easily mix them up.'

'Fortunately there's little risk of head injury in your line of work,' said Daniel.

'At a Cambridge think tank? Certainly not.'

Hermione grew uneasy as they exited the motorway and approached her grandparents' house. She hadn't seen them since August, although she rang them regularly, but her aunt, uncle, and cousins would be there as well. Nan had insisted on having everyone together for Hermione's birthday, 'since there was no telling where everyone would be at Christmas.'

'Mum, when did you last see the twins?' asked Hermione.

'At Easter,' said Emily, and Hermione felt another stab of shame. She'd stayed at Hogwarts over the Easter holidays, ostensibly to prepare for her N.E.W.T.s, but also to avoid her family. Emily stroked her hand, perhaps sensing her thoughts, and Hermione closed her eyes and tried to forgive herself.

Hermione had never got on well with her cousins, even when they were little. Albert and Jenny were a year older, and even though they were clever they weren't nearly as bookish as she was. They also had better social skills than Hermione, and she always felt awkward and friendless around them.

She discreetly reinforced her hair charm before getting out of the car, and Ryan held her hand as they walked to the front door. 'Don't worry,' he said, 'I promise not to embarrass you.'

'You're the least of my worries. But sit next to me so I can lean close when necessary.'

Everyone else had arrived, and Hermione could see her cousins looking out the window at them. She squeezed Ryan's hand tighter and took a deep breath when her mother knocked on the door. 'Come in, come in,' said her grandfather warmly. 'Happy birthday, Hermione!'

She hugged him and said, 'Thank you, Grandpa. I'm so happy to see you.'

'Is that Ryan?' called her grandmother. 'Come here, we're all in the lounge.'

They entered, and there was a round of greetings, hugs, and birthday wishes. 'You're all grown up!' exclaimed Hermione's aunt. 'And so pretty!'

'Thanks,' mumbled Hermione, blushing.

'Why are you surprised? I showed you her picture,' said Nan, indicating a framed photo Emily had sent.

'She thought it was Photoshopped,' said Jenny. 'But apparently it wasn't. Well done, Hermione—you look great!'

'Thanks, so do you. I can't believe it's been so long!'

Everyone sat down, and to Hermione's disappointment her aunt and cousins took the sofa, which meant she and Ryan were on separate chairs. Nan began interrogating him, which went smoothly, and Hermione was proud of her boyfriend's false identity. The irony is that it's less impressive than the real story, she thought, and she felt guilty knowing Ron wouldn't have done nearly as well.

'I must say, you look more like an Olympic athlete than a research analyst,' said Nan. 'Do you play a sport?'

'All of them,' he said. 'But mostly football nowadays, and some lacrosse.'

Hermione's uncle asked Ryan which club he supported, which unleashed a heated discussion amongst the men on the relative merits of Arsenal and Manchester United. Ron never would have survived this conversation, she thought with amusement.

'So where were you all these years?' asked Jenny. 'I know you were at school in Scotland, but why didn't you ever come home at holidays?'

Hermione had prepared her answer. 'Being home was hard for me,' she said. 'I didn't fit in well at primary school, but at boarding school I had close friends for the first time. I came home for Christmas the first year, but I missed my friends terribly, so Mum and Dad let me stay at school most years after that. And then some years I had exams, so I stayed during the Easter hols as well.'

'But what about summers?' asked her aunt. 'By the time you were sixteen, you hardly spent more than a fortnight with your parents.'

'It wasn't their fault,' said Hermione sadly, 'but I'd come to associate home with how lonely I was in primary school. It was all right seeing Mum and Dad, but I had no friends in Hampstead and didn't fancy running into the kids who used to bully me. Also, my school friends and I had a lot of hobbies and projects we liked to work on during our breaks.'

'What kind of projects?' asked Jenny.

'Things that sound silly now, like writing adventure stories and such. We've moved past that and are a good deal more normal now, but it was very engrossing at the time.'

'But then your parents moved away,' persisted Jenny. 'Did you stay in England because of your friends?'

Hermione closed her eyes, and another wave of guilt and sadness overtook her. 'I'd withdrawn from the family by then, and when I wasn't in school I stayed with friends. My best friend is an orphan and he inherited a house from his godfather, so I stayed there a lot.'

'Were you a couple? Is that why you stayed with him?'

Hermione couldn't help chuckling. 'Everyone asks me that, but he's always been like a brother to me.' She looked at Jenny and said, 'Imagine if you didn't have a twin, but you felt as close to a friend as you do with Albert. Wouldn't you stay with them rather than your parents, if you had to choose?'

'I would, but why did you have to choose? I still don't understand why your parents moved away.'

Hermione's father interrupted. 'We've finished talking about football, and Ryan seems keen to join your conversation.'

'I was telling them about Harry and Ron,' said Hermione, 'and how we spent so much time together growing up.'

'Have you met them?' Hermione's aunt asked Ryan.

'Yes, Harry and I work together—that's how Hermione and I met. But I don't know Ron very well.'

'Ron and I dated for a year,' explained Hermione. 'But I want to hear more about you,' she said to her cousins, and the conversation returned to safer ground.

Her cousins couldn't hide their surprise she wasn't at a more prestigious college. 'I always expected you to wind up at Kings College, or maybe Trinity,' said Albert. 'But then you dropped off the radar ... What happened?'

Hermione repeated what she'd told Jenny and her aunt, but Albert was more persistent. 'That still doesn't explain why you're not in a top-tier academic programme. Did you blow your A-levels or something?'

'Albert, have you ever tried thinking before opening your mouth?' scolded Jenny.

'It's a fair question!' he argued. 'Hermione was brainier than the two of us put together. I figured she'd grow up to write encyclopaedias or something, but she's at some college I've never heard of.'

'She did fine, all things considered,' said Nan stiffly.

'Are you blaming my parents?' asked Hermione. 'I'm the one who made poor decisions.'

'You were an adolescent. A girl needs her parents at home, and not in Australia.'

'Please stop blaming them,' said Hermione, who felt something akin to Light magic, only with an edge of panic.

'They let you down,' continued Nan. 'You should have come here. Your grandfather and I would have taken you in.'

'I didn't want to come here,' said Hermione, fighting off tears. "I had other things going on.'

Ryan looked helplessly at her, and he wasn't even close enough to hold her hand. 'Hermione's done wonderfully—you have no idea.'

'No, I haven't done wonderfully,' said Hermione. 'I lied to my parents for years and cut all of you from my life. They left because of me, because I broke their hearts.'

'That's not true and you know it,' said her mother.

'Emily, you broke her heart!' scolded Nan. 'You let your daughter down. She was being bullied and you sent her clear off to Scotland. Of course you were going to lose her—it's only a miracle you got her back.'

'It's a miracle she's alive!' cried Emily. 'If you had any idea what she's been through!'

'Mum, no!'

'I have to tell her,' said Emily. 'We'll decide what to do later.'

'Tell me what?' asked Nan.

Emily took a deep breath. 'Hermione's a witch. An actual magical witch.' She turned to Hermione and said, 'Show them.'

'Mum, I'm not allowed.'

'Show them!'

Sighing, Hermione pulled out her wand and looked at Ryan. 'What should I show them?'

'Transfigure the footstool.'

Hermione's relations stared dumbly as she transfigured the footstool into large and adorable rodent.

'Is that a capybara?' asked Daniel.

'Yes,' said Hermione. 'It's cute, isn't it?'

'How did you do that?' exclaimed Jenny.

'Magic,' said Ryan, pulling out his wand. 'I'm magical too. I don't actually work for a think tank—I play a professional sport called Quidditch.'

'Quidditch?' said Albert. 'I've never heard of it.'

'That's because it's hidden from Muggles—non-magical people. It's played on brooms.'

'Brooms like flying brooms?' asked Hermione's grandfather, and Ryan nodded. 'Can I see it?'

Ryan shook his head sadly. 'You're not allowed to know. We're going to have to erase your memories.'

'What!' cried several of them at once. 'You can't erase our memories!' said Nan.

'It's the law,' explained Ryan. 'Wizarding law.'

'How will they know?' asked Jenny.

'That's a good question,' said Hermione. 'Ryan, how would they know?'

'There's a trace,' began Ryan, but Nan interrupted.

'Is that rodent going to soil the carpet?' she asked nervously.

'No, it's still a footstool. As long as you don't feed it anything, it'll be fine. But I can change it back if you like.'

'Not yet,' said Jenny, who was petting it. 'It's so cute! But what's a trace?'

'The Ministry of Magic applies a trace to certain non-magical individuals deemed likely to reveal the existence of magic, but who can't be Obliviated for practical reasons.'

Hermione looked up. 'That explains why a pair of Obliviators turned up when Harry's cousin Dudley told some girl about magic.'

'Your friend Harry is magical too?' asked Jenny.

'All my friends are magical,' she admitted. 'That's what my school was for.'

'So you don't attend uni?' asked Albert. 'Or is Tufton College a secret magical school?'

'I don't attend Tufton College, or university at all.'

'Then how do you get a job? Or don't you need a job, because you have hot and cold running capybaras?'

Ryan, Hermione, and her parents chuckled. 'I have a job, with the Ministry of Magic. I'm a researcher in the legal department, and my goal is to craft legislation.'

'Now that's the Hermione I remember!' cried Albert. 'You were probably first in your class!'

'She was, and Head Girl,' said Ryan proudly, 'but that's only the start.'

'No, you'll just upset them,' said Hermione, but Emily shook her head.

'They need to know how special you are. And also why we moved to Australia.'

'Oh Mum, you're right! Not for me, but so Nan stops blaming you. Nan, it was all my fault.'

'No it wasn't,' said Daniel. 'There was a war. A wizarding war, and Hermione and her friends were at the centre of it. She wasn't writing adventure stories—she was living them.'

'Horror stories,' muttered Emily.

'What do you mean?' asked Grandpa. 'Horror stories?'

Hermione and her parents all looked at Ryan for some reason, so he explained. 'Hermione's friend Harry—who's my teammate, by the way—was orphaned because an evil wizard killed his parents.'

'An evil wizard!' blurted Albert. 'You're not joking, are you?'

'I'm really not. He used Dark magic to transform himself into something that was no longer human, and he tried to take over Britain. And Hermione's the reason he didn't succeed.'

'Harry's the reason,' she said. 'Ron and I just helped him.'

Her grandfather was aghast. 'They sent three children to fight an evil, inhuman wizard?'

Daniel and Emily nodded, but Hermione shook her head. 'There was a prophecy—only Harry could stop him. And there were adults helping us, but a lot of them died.'

'And you let her do this?' cried Nan to Hermione's parents. 'Why didn't you take her to Australia with you?'

'Because I erased their memories,' said Hermione. 'They didn't know any of it—I started lying to them when I was twelve. I was afraid they'd make me leave Hogwarts and stop being magical.'

'Hogwarts? Was that your school?' asked her aunt, and Hermione nodded. 'Couldn't you just have attended another school?'

'It's a long story,' said Ryan. 'But the short answer is no.'

'You erased your parents' memories?' asked Grandpa. 'Did you restore them somehow?'

Emily explained their move to Australia, putting all the blame on Voldemort and none on Hermione. 'At first we were upset—very upset—but then we learnt what happened to Ryan's family.'

Ryan told everyone about his father, and how Death Eaters had killed his grandparents. 'Hermione feels terrible about manipulating her parents like that, and all of you by extension, but I only wish I'd done the same.'

'Are we in danger now?' asked Jenny, looking up from the capybara.

'No, not at all,' said Hermione. 'No one in the magical world knew Mum's maiden name, and I added protections to your houses just to be safe. Although I could give you amulets if you like.'

'Hell yeah!' cried Albert. 'Would it be a pentagram or something?'

Hermione and Ryan laughed. 'Only if you wanted,' she replied.

'But you fought in a war?' persisted Grandpa. 'Were you hurt?'

Hermione glanced at her parents. 'Yes. I have scars, but otherwise I'm fully recovered.'

'What Hermione still hasn't told you is that she's a hero in the wizarding world,' said Ryan. 'She was awarded the equivalent of the Victoria Cross, and she's world-famous.'

'I'm not world-famous!'

'Harry is, and everyone knows you helped him,' said Ryan.

'My granddaughter is world-famous, and I didn't even know it?' said Nan weakly.

'We couldn't tell you,' said Emily. 'Daniel and I are so proud of her, but we had to lie.'

Albert snorted and said, 'Jenny and I thought you were a drug addict or something. But instead you're Alexander the Great.'

'I didn't conquer anyone!'

'Right, then Winston Churchill,' replied Albert. 'But still!'

'What else can you do?' asked Jenny, indicating Hermione's wand.

'What can't she do?' said Emily, and Hermione gave a wide-ranging demonstration.

'And show them how you can travel,' insisted Daniel.

'What? Right here?'

'Yes! Just go from one end of the room to the other.'

'It's noisy,' she warned them, before Apparating across the lounge.

'Oh my god!' exclaimed her aunt. 'How far can you go?'

'Hundreds of miles,' she replied.

'In an instant?'

'Nearly, yeah.'

'Then why don't you visit more!' cried Nan, and everyone laughed.

'I can now,' said Hermione. 'Unless ...' She turned to Ryan.

'Unless what?' said her grandfather. 'Do you need to make us forget?'

'No!' wailed her cousins. 'You can't do that, or else we'll think you're a drug addict again,' said Albert.

Ryan frowned. 'You mustn't tell anyone,' he warned them. 'Not a peep, not even if you've been drinking.'

'Especially if you've been drinking,' said Hermione.

They swore they wouldn't, but Ryan continued. 'And you can't tell your future spouse or children. None of my non-magical relations know, except my father.'

'But we can talk amongst ourselves, right?' asked Jenny, and Hermione nodded. 'As long as Albert knows, I'll be fine.'

'It's a good thing I came,' he admitted. 'I put up a fight, because term starts tomorrow and I'm missing a party.'

'Er, we can get you there faster if you like,' offered Ryan. 'It won't be pleasant, but it'll be quick.'

'Yes, please!'

Ryan took over answering questions, giving Hermione the opportunity to adjust to her new reality. My family knows. They all know.

'Is that why you're both so good-looking?' blurted Jenny.

'Because of magic?' exclaimed Hermione. 'No, although the school matron used magic to fix my teeth. And I control my hair using a charm.'

'That's a relief—I'm already jealous enough. But where do you think it came from? Is there anyone magical in your family, Uncle Daniel?'

'Not that I'm aware of,' he replied. 'But Hermione says magic can go dormant for generations, and then spring up again out of nowhere.'

Hermione's grandfather furrowed his brow. 'What do you mean, go dormant?'

Ryan explained about Squibs, Muggle-borns, and accidental magic. 'So your house wasn't haunted!' cried Nan.

'You thought our house was haunted?' said Emily.

'I never told you, and I half-forgot, but I was looking after Hermione when she was about three, and I found the dictionary on the floor next to her. It was too heavy for her, of course, and I didn't want her to damage it, so I put it back on the bookcase, out of reach. I left the room, and when I came back it was on the floor next to her again. This happened several times, and finally I watched and saw the book float right down to her.' Shaking her head in disbelief, she added, 'I can't believe I forgot about that, but it scared the daylights out of me.'

Ryan looked at Hermione in awe. 'You Summoned a dictionary when you were three? Could you even read then?'

Hermione nodded, and Nan said, 'Mind you, this was no ordinary dictionary—it was the Compact OED, with the magnifying glass.'

Her grandfather was still lost in thought. 'So there might have been a Squib in the family?' he asked.

'On one of our sides, yes,' said Daniel. 'Although I suspect it's on Emily's side, since she tolerates magical transport better than I do.'

'My mum's father,' began Grandpa. 'He used to tell me stories. I thought he learnt them on his travels—he was in the Royal Navy—but perhaps he was a Squib.'

Hermione's eyes widened. 'What do you know about his family?'

'Not much. Mum didn't have any relations on that side that I knew of. Granddad joined the navy when he was twelve or so, and that was his career.'

'What kind of stories did he tell?'

'They were marvellous! Stories about dragons and unicorns, and a sport played on broomsticks.' His head jerked towards Ryan. 'That's your sport! What's it called again?'

'Quidditch.'

He shook his head. 'That wasn't the name he used, but I remember there were iron balls that slammed into the players, and a little golden ball with wings.'

Ryan and Hermione were both nodding enthusiastically. 'That's Quidditch all right,' he said.

Hermione was almost afraid to ask the next question. 'What was your grandfather's name?'

His expression fond, Grandpa said, 'Senior Lieutenant Rufus Goyle.'

'Goyle!' cried Hermione in horror.

'Do you know any Goyles?' asked Ryan.

Hermione was too flabbergasted to speak. I'm related to Goyle! she thought with disgust. A small part of her brain quickly calculated that she and Gregory could be no more than fourth cousins, which wasn't so bad. But still, Goyle!

'Yes,' she admitted. 'I had a classmate named Gregory Goyle. And he was horrid—he's in Azkaban now for performing Unforgivables. And his father was a Death Eater.'

Ryan inhaled sharply before explaining to Hermione's family what that meant. 'But that's just one branch of the family. Mr Barnes, what was your grandfather like?'

Hermione's grandfather looked alarmed both by her reaction and what Ryan had said. 'He was a big fellow,' he began. 'Not the best looking, truth be told, and not as clever as my grandmum. But he had a heart of gold, and we all loved him.'

She relaxed slightly. 'Until that last part, you described my classmate perfectly. But a heart of gold? Really?'

'Oh yes. And he was brave as could be—that's probably the only reason he made senior lieutenant, which wasn't a high rank. And the only reason he was an officer at all was because his family was well-fixed, and they pulled a string or two to get him started. But after that he was on his own, and he earned the respect of his superiors.'

'I wonder if "pulling a string or two" meant they magically Confunded someone to take him on,' mused Hermione.

'Perhaps,' said her grandfather. 'But you can't fool people for long—not on a ship. I'll never forget his funeral, when his mates told stories about him. They said, "Your granddad was never going to be Admiral, or even Commander. But everyone wanted him on their crew, because he was a hard worker and a good friend.'

Hermione smiled. 'Thank you for telling me about him,' she said sincerely. 'I'll admit that Greg Goyle is probably the last person I wanted to be related to, but your grandfather sounds lovely.'

They talked more about magic, and Nan asked, 'What about medicine? You said they fixed your teeth magically—can they fix other things?'

Hermione and Ryan exchanged glances. 'Yes,' he said. 'Not everything, but a lot of things.' He told them about Lucinda and asked whether they'd be willing to be test subjects.

'Could she fix my knee?' asked Nan.

'Yes, but you can't tell a soul,' cautioned Hermione. 'And don't let your doctors take new x-rays, or they might start asking questions.'

Before leaving, Ryan added safety charms to both cars, and Hermione turned the capybara back into a footstool.

'Thanks for trusting us and not erasing our memories,' said her uncle. 'And even though it's awful to find out you fought a war, it's also a relief to know you weren't as lost as we feared.'

Emily was helping her mother carry the tea trays back to the kitchen, and when they returned several minutes later they looked like they'd been crying. Albert and Jenny said goodbye, and after consulting the guide to UK Apparition points, Ryan and Hermione took them to their respective universities.

Jenny looked green after they arrived. 'Oh my god, that was horrible,' she exclaimed. 'I must not have the magic genes your mum got.'

'Actually, you did pretty well. I haven't even tried Apparating my parents—they've only travelled by Floo, which Ryan says is slightly easier for Muggles.'

'So maybe I'll have a magical child after all?' mused Jenny.

'Anything's possible,' said Hermione warmly.

They walked together to Jenny's residence hall. 'I'm sorry we weren't closer as children,' said Jenny. 'I suppose Albert and I weren't very nice to you.'

'I wasn't easy to interact with. And I was terribly envious of you, because you had a built-in friend and protector.'

'Albert? Yes, I suppose so. But you got your revenge—not that you wanted it.'

'Being a witch, you mean?'

Jenny nodded. 'It's probably good I didn't find out until now, because I would have been jealous.'

'It's a decidedly mixed blessing,' said Hermione. 'On the one hand, magic is fascinating and incredibly cool. But on the other hand, every wizard is armed with a deadly weapon. I toned down the war stories this afternoon, to keep from upsetting Nan and Grandpa, but I nearly died dozens of times, and I've lost way too many friends.' She paused. 'And I was tortured.'

Jenny's jaw dropped. 'You said you had scars, but torture?'

'Yeah. A lot of pure-blood wizards hate Muggle-borns like me. That's a big part of what the war was about.'

'Oh, Hermione! I'm so sorry. And you had to worry about your parents on top of everything.'

Hermione nodded. 'It was hard. Really hard. But things are so much better now ... I still can't believe it sometimes.'

'Like how you were awarded the Victoria Cross?'

'That's the least of it. Wizarding society is completely different now, and I scarcely recognise my friend Harry—his life has changed so much.'

'And that's good?'

'It's beyond good. He still has problems, but nothing like before. They're just ordinary problems, like dealing with family and finding the right girl—except for the part where he's the most famous wizard in the world.'

'And he's your best mate?' exclaimed Jenny.

'Yeah. Except for Ryan, I suppose.'

'Oh my god, Ryan! If he ever gets tired of broomsticks he could be a model! And he's madly in love with you, in case you hadn't noticed.'

'I had noticed,' said Hermione, smiling. 'And it's mutual.'

'I'm so happy for you,' said Jenny. 'We really were worried about you all those years. And with good reason, it turns out.'

They walked the rest of the way to her residence hall, and Jenny introduced Hermione to a few of her mates before saying goodbye. 'I promise not to tell a soul,' she assured Hermione. 'And I'm sure Albert and I will develop some kind of secret code. We always wanted a private twin language, and now we finally have an excuse.'

Hermione discreetly Apparated back to her grandparents' house, where Ryan and her parents were waiting. 'You really don't need to ride home with us,' said Emily.

'No, I want to,' said Hermione.

Her grandparents were reluctant to let go when they hugged her goodbye. 'Oh, my precious Hermione,' said Nan. 'I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you.'

'You wouldn't have been safe,' said Hermione. 'Believe me, it was better this way.'

Ryan promised not only to get them in touch with his mother, but also to provide Cannons tickets. 'My whole life I've wanted to see it,' admitted Hermione's grandfather. 'I never dared hope it was real.'

Hermione was glad to sit next to her mum on the ride home. 'How are you doing?' she asked. 'It looks like you and Nan had a moment together.'

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'My mind is still reeling. I suppose yours is as well.'

'It is, but remember I've been through this once before.'

'Perhaps, but I seem to recall being rather hard on you.'

'I deserved it,' said Hermione. 'And it was just years of deferred scolding, if you think about it.'

'That's one way to look at it. Of course now she'll ring me every night with more questions, and you'll be there once a week doing household charms and replacing lost buttons.' With a chuckle, she added, 'When you were off with Jenny, Nan kept saying, "If only I'd kept the pieces of the Wedgwood teapot when I broke it."'

'I'll be glad to visit more often,' said Hermione sincerely, leaning against her mum. 'I definitely want to see them at Christmas. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Jenny and I might be friends after this. Albert too.'

'He wants to see a Quidditch match,' said Ryan. 'And he actually tolerated Apparition pretty well—better than my dad, I think.'

'Maybe he got the gene,' mused Hermione. Thinking about her cousins, she recalled how she'd envied their relationship as a child. I'd have done anything to have a twin brother to protect me from bullies, she thought. And he'd have taught me how to have fun and not be so serious all the time, and I wouldn't have been so lonely.

A realisation dawned. No wonder I latched onto Harry as a brother! He'd come to rescue her from the troll, after Ron had insulted her. Not only that, but he turned Ron into an ally instead of an antagonist. Harry is my Albert!

It was like a puzzle piece sliding into place. Of course our Light magic resonates: we're like reunited twins! She recalled Alistair's assertion that they were deeply linked, and it made perfect sense. Harry's not just like my brother—he is my brother.

She couldn't wait to tell Ryan. He needn't worry I'll fall in love with Harry— just as Jenny's boyfriend needn't to worry she'll fall in love with Albert. Peace overtook her, and she knew that if her hair hadn't been charmed, it would have begun sparking.