phase x
"I''m a third of it."
18th June, 2013 - Amba Hotel, Charing Cross, London, UK
"Nick! We're gonna be late!" Alura yelled from outside of the bathroom in their hotel room.
"ONE SEC!" Nick yelled in reply as he ruffled his hair in front of the mirror and quickly re-buckled his belt tighter, as well as making sure to flush the toilet again, finding out that within this magnificent room they'd been given, the plumbing system was a tad off.
"Oh? You're wearing a dress?" Nick looked at his twin sister curiously as he came out of the bathroom. Alura can be tolerant about many things, Nicholas's competitiveness, their Mom's workaholic lifestyle, Freya's constant gossiping about anything, their neighbour Leia Syralto's annoyingly loud singing in midnight. But everyone knows Alura 'Lou' Lilith Katherson could never tolerate wearing a dress since she was old enough to choose her own clothes.
Alura loathes dresses.
"Yes. I am wearing a dress." Alura said sternly, nervously flattening her sleeveless wine red summer dress.
"Well, you look weird." Nick commented and Alura glared at him. "Well, weirdly great." Nick added.
"It's only polite to show up in a British dinner and visiting a British home for the first time in a dress Nicholas." Alura huffed and used a golden claw clip to secure her big mass of a hair.
"Can you please comb your hair, Nick?" Alura asked patiently.
"Well, I tried. It's the effort that counts, right crazy auburn hair on top of my head?" Nicholas replied sarcastically as he tied his shoe laces.
"Whatever." Alura rolled her eyes and secured the moleskin pouch around her waist by a thin black belt before jumping in a pair of matching wine red scrappy heeled sandals.
"Wow, heels to-" Nicholas was about to start commenting when Alura glared hard at her brother and he closed his mouth.
"Let's go, Louie." Nicholas said on purpose and urged her to leave their incredibly comfortable hotel room.
"Call me Louie again and see what happens." Alura threatened and walked out of the room followed by her brother.
They went to the back alley of hotel, making sure no one's around, before grabbing each other's hand and disapparated to the TCD headquarters.
The arrived at the familiar grand doors of the headquarters with a pop. They quickly pushed the doors open and entered the very modernised lobby of The Charmed Diurnal and spotted the Chief Editor, Lavender Weasley already waiting for them.
"Chief Editor." Nicholas and Alura greeted.
"Alura, Nicholas. Please call me Lavender." Lavender smiled and greeted.
"Sure, Lavender." Alura smiled.
"Ready?" Lavender asked. It was more of a reassurance to herself than asking if the twins were ready for the apparition.
"Yeah." Alura nodded and Lavender held out both her hands for the twins to grab on. Once they got hold of Lavender, the three of them disappeared from the lobby.
—
18th June, 2013 - Auburn Chalet, Ottery , Devon, UK
"Hey Gin." Ron greeted his sister as the Longbottoms walked into the Weasley's living room. Molly was already fumbling around Ron's kitchen as she called Ginny in for help. Not long after, George also popped into with Angelina and their twins Freddie and Regina. The lot of them got themselves comfortable on the couches of Ron's living room.
Late as always, Harry finally arrived and he too joined the couch, chatting away happily.
"Hey Ron, where's Lav?" Neville asked, noticing her absence.
"Oh, she had to check something out at work, she said she'd be a bit late." Ron replied nonchalantly.
"Anyways, how's life?" Neville asked.
"Well, as good as it could be." Ron answered.
"Business is blooming. But Angie here threatened to divorce me if I continue to treat Freddie and Gina with my invisibility toffee." George laughed and glared at his wife playfully.
"I really will divorce you if you tried to sneak them those invisibility toffees again. They're already troublesome, I don't need to have to troublemaking disillusioned." Angelina huffed.
"Neville Franklin Longbottom! Will you make sure Nora isn't off breaking vases?" Ginny yelled from the kitchen when a loud shatter of glass was heard, following with Nora's laughter.
"Sorry Gin!" Neville called out an apology and rushed to his youngest's aid.
"Ron can I talk to you?" Harry blurted.
"You are." Ron replied dumbfounded.
"Alone." Harry added with a meaningful glare.
"Uh, yeah sure." Ron said nervously and stood up. They then treaded upstairs to a guest bedroom, one where Harry usually sleeps in if he ever crashes over for a case or when being alone was a bit too much.
"Secretum maxima." Harry muttered and the door sealed with a golden glow.
"Look," Harry started, rubbing his face and frustration. "I'm sorry for the damage I did yesterday. I'm also sorry for the way I acted out, I know this is hard for you as well."
"I understand Harry. I've grown out of the teaspoon." Ron smiled genuinely.
"I'm really glad." Harry laughed. "I want to reopen the case."
"Are you sure?" Ron asked.
"I don't know honestly. I don't know if I'll be able to face her again, or forgive her for leaving us like we're idiots." Harry sighed.
"Honestly?" Ron said. "I won't be able to forgive her, maybe in time I will. But if I walk out of this room now and I see her? I won't."
"That's… very honest of you." Harry said, amused.
"She's obviously been living by an alias. The way Lavender said her children doesn't even know her real name." Harry pointed out. "We won't find anything with the magical governments, we have to go muggle."
"You mean the muggle government?"
"Yes." Harry nodded. "I'm 100% sure she's living in a muggle district. It's only logical. And you live muggle, you have to register as a citizen with the muggle government. With her magic, she'd be able to forge all documents required, confundus the officers even when needed." He analysed.
"So we confundus the muggle officers too?" Ron asked.
"Maybe." Harry mused.
"Let's ask Lavender what she know first, and get contact with Hermione's kids." Ron suggested.
"When have you become the logical one?" Harry asked, surprised and amused.
"Someone has to take that role, and we both know who's the more emotionally stable one here." Ron raised his eyebrows in challenge.
"What has Lavender done to you?" Harry asked rhetorically.
"You don't wanna know." Ron smirked.
"No, I don't." Harry shook his head and cancelled the secrecy ward.
"After you mate." Harry gestured and followed Ron out of the guest room. As they walked down the stairs to return to their friends, they heard a big commotion and quickly rushed down.
"Who are you?" They heard Neville demand somebody.
"Uh, Chief Editor Weas… Lavender invited us here for dinner." An unknown voice replied hesitantly.
"How did you get past the wards?" Harry demanded as he took his wand out in precaution. "And how do you know Lavender?"
"Well that's a long story." The girl replied.
"Where's Lavender?" Ron demanded.
"Um, at the front door? She told us to come in first and settle down, while she need to change out of her work clothes. She also apparated us into her home." The boy replied. "You know you're not as terrifying as you think you look right?"
"Oh we can be very terrifying." George reassured playfully.
"Not really." Alura shrugged and broke the vase with a glare at it.
"Okay enough!" Harry broke the silence that came with the act of wandless magic. "Who are you?" He demanded.
"Alura." The girl replied. "He's Nicholas, the more annoying twin." The girl gestured to the boy next to her.
"Woah! What's going on here?" Lavender cried in surprise as she came into the living room in a simple cerulean wrap dress and matching sandals.
"Well, I'm not really sure." Nicholas shrugged.
"Put down your damn wands! I invited them here for dinner because they want answers and I am here to provide them answers, not problems!" Lavender bellowed and they all put their wands away.
"Answers of what?" Ron asked, incredibly confused at his wife.
"Their mom." Lavender sighed and Ron widened her eyes in surprise.
"Well, I guess that explains their magic." Ron put down his wand and Harry followed his example. Soon everyone put away the wands and smiled awkwardly.
"Care to explain who they are?" Neville asked.
"What about we all sit down? I don't want anyone collapsing or breaking any more vases." Lavender suggested and they all returned to the couch, and the twins sat nearby on two stools.
"Lavender, they are not who I think they are, right?" Ginny asked warily. Lavender only nodded and Ginny almost fainted with shock.
"Alura, would you care to explain your presence?" Lavender requested politely, not trusting herself to keep her emotions in check for the long, extremely long explanation.
"Long story short, we're here to find answers about our Mom, which according to Lavender, my Mom's Hogwarts roommate, you could provide. Lavender and us met when Nick and I went to TCD to post a search ad for her, because she is the only known tie of our Mom's past, at least to us she was the only one. We also swore an honesty oath on our life and magic to Lavender that we are not frauds if that's what you're afraid of." Alura elucidated as summarised as she could.
"Who's your Mom?" Molly blurted out.
"Please don't be scared, this is harmless. It's a muggle tablet that stores information and searches stuff that we made, we honestly didn't invent it but it's bespoke to adapt to magic." Alura warned and Nicholas fished out the tablet, before projecting the image of Lavender and their mother as a hologram so everyone could see.
"This picture right here, is the only picture Mom hung on the wall about her past. We know that Lavender is her roommate. And to answer your question, we don't know. We know her as our Mom and Jean Cecilia Katherson, but well, we know it's only her alias. She refused to speak of her past after she left Britain, not even to my nana and pops." Alura answered and everyone stared at the picture in shock.
"And in case you couldn't figure it out yourselves, the girl next to Lavender is our Mom." Nicholas supplied and the lot of them cursed, well except for Ron, Ginny, Harry and of course, Lavender, who knew about the news prior.
"So, you all know her?" Alura was not sure what to make of the situation.
"We knew her? We fought with her!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, who is she anyways?" Nicholas asked.
"Hermione, Hermione Granger." Harry replied under his breath, but it was loud enough to be heard by everyone.
The name was finally spoken.
—
18th June, 2013 - Heathrow Airport, London, UK
"Welcome to Heathrow Airport. London is a city full of wonder, we offer many historical and futuristics experiences for all our visitors. To our fellow Brits, welcome home…" The PA announcement echoed through the enormous arrival hall of Terminal 5, where Hermione was met with a fairly sized WH Smith. She walked through the arrival hall nervously, with every step bringing her closer and closer to her past. She hadn't walked on British soil for years, and each step is bringing her memories, a past she tried so hard to leave behind, only to come back at her ten times stronger, as her mother had once warned. Each breath taken felt like home, it is as if she's finally at peace, even in her insides are turning inside out at this point.
Stepping out of the airport, she quickly called for a taxi and settled in. She froze on the seat until the driver spoke up.
"Um, miss? You've been sitting here for 2 minutes already, where do you wanna go?" The driver asked hesitantly.
"14 Lakis Close, Hampstead." Hermione blurted out.
"Sure miss." The driver nodded and checked his rearview mirror before driving off into the night.
She watched the all too familiar landscape speed past her as the taxi make its way to its destination. The usually busy streets of London is now deserted, with a few night walkers passing by, silently. The commotion she was used to were all in deep slumber, even the traffic was down to a minimum. The taxi sped past all the traffic bottlenecks without trouble, the Wembley Stadium that they sped past was the only thing illuminating the silent night. She knew they were close, very close when the taxi drove past Brent Cross, where they make their way down the Brent Cross Flyover.
Making a sharp turn near Camden Art Centre, a gallery she used to frequent when she was little, they sped their way towards Hampstead station and into Flask Walk after a few minutes. It was a matter of seconds before the arrive at Lakis Close.
"Miss? We're here." The driver announced as they stopped in front of a posh clinic with a subtle sign saying 'The Dream Beam'.
"Thank you." Hermione thanked politely and payed the driver with a generous tip as she usually does. She then stepped out of the car and it drove off into the night again.
Looking at the clinic in front of her, she smiled inwardly and fished her keys out. She would've gone home, just a few streets down in fact, but then again, her childhood home is registered with the ministry since her admission to Hogwarts, and that would announce her return to the world.
She pushed the door open and entered the familiar clinic that she spent most of her time in as a child. She would often sit by the receptionist after school and quietly finish her homework, then bounce off to the kids waiting area where she would sometimes play with the little patients or just read alone in the corner silently. Walking behind the reception counter, she fumbled with the switches and turned on the lights of the clinic, revealing the posh interior.
She walked towards the waiting area, where the comfortable couches and armchairs are covered in plastic. Her parents have never gone round to selling their dentistry, it meant too much for them to sell it. The dentistry had been their life, it was where her parents met and fell in love, it was also where she was born. She didn't remember it of course, but Calithea had told her adventurous birthing story for a thousand times in her life, how Calithea was doing a check up on her patient when her water broke all of a sudden, which shouldn't happen for another two weeks. Her father, Phillip was doing an operation, where he couldn't abandon the patient to care to his wife. Calithea was then moved to an empty room where she lied down and focused on her contractions, timing and calculation while their colleague immediately called 999 for help.
She smiled at the story wistfully and removed one of the plastic sheets on one of the couches. She quickly plopped down onto the couch exhausted.
Sleep. Yes, it is exactly what she needed. She could deal with everything later.
—
18th June, 2013 - Auburn Chalet, Ottery , Devon, UK
"Alura Granger… it does have a better ring than Alura Katherson." Alura mused to herself, breaking the awkward silence that dawned the living room.
"You're really Hermione's daughter?" Molly asked tentatively.
"Yes, um… I'm Hermione's daughter. Wow, that sounds weird." Alura nodded.
"Well, I'm Morrigan Weasley, but everyone calls me Molly, or Mom." Molly broke the ice as gentle as she could. She wasn't known for being the brightest, but the tension in the room could be easily seen naked eyed.
Following Molly's example, the people present quickly introduced themselves, before the kids returned from the backyard with Arthur.
"Mommy! Grandpapa taught me how to play gobstones! I won Cesca too!" Alissa, Ginny's eldest ran into the room excitedly to announce her new skill.
"That's great Lissy!" Ginny smiled and gestured her daughter to come over. "Where are your cousins?"
"Harvey and Freddie are broom racing for the last time. Rey, Gina and Cesca are coming back." Alissa reported, oblivious to the current situation.
"Well, it's almost dinner. Can you be a big girl and go tell your grandpapa to come back for dinner?" Ginny requested.
"I'm a big girl!" Alissa replied happily and ran off to complete her task.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable Alura and Nicholas. Dinner should be in a few." Lavender smiled and gestured the twins to join them on the couch while Molly grabbed Ginny and they returned to the kitchen to finish their cooking.
"So, you two are twins?" George asked. "Shouldn't you look the same?"
"We're fraternal twins. So we don't look exactly the same." Nicholas explained. "What was our mother like?"
"Well, she's the smartest witch I know. People called her the Brightest Witch of Our Age for a reason after all." George replied. "And she hates my pranks."
"Quick question, does she hate brooms?" Alura thought for a second before asking.
"Definitely." Ron and Harry replied in unison almost immediately.
"She hates brooms that much?" Nicholas asked in disbelief.
"Well, Harry and I were in the Gryffindor Quidditch team. It's probably the only reason she even comes to matches. Well in addition to Lav's persistency for her to get out of the library." Ron explained.
"Where did you get the pouch?" Harry asked abruptly, looking at the pouch fastened around Alura's waist.
"She stole it from her. We haven planned this trip for years, since we started Ilvermony where we found out about her alias. We couldn't use suitcases and these pouches are way too expensive for us." Nicholas elucidated.
"She never told you anything about her past?" Harry asked.
"She's very secretive about it. She just said she had to leave because here wasn't a safe place to raise two kids as a single mother."
"How old are you two?" Angelina asked.
"Fourteen, well fifteen in October." Alura answered.
"I take it you like flying?" Ron shifted the subject, the only thing he felt comfortable enough discussing, seeing everyone here are avid flyers.
"We're seekers. Well, we alternate every year because we're both in Thunderbird. This year, Alura's the seeker and I'm the chaser." Nicholas said.
"I was chaser too, and played professionally for sometime, before I decided to settle down and have kids." Angelina revealed.
"We're always curious how our mother hates brooms yet we love them." Alura unveiled.
"How about your dad, what's he like?" Angelina unknowingly trespassed an unknown territory.
"Um." Nicholas thought for a second before continuing. "We kinda don't know him."
"Oh." Angelina simply replied, a little shocked. "I'm sorry." She quickly apologised.
"It's okay." Alura smiled. "It's another reason why we're here after all. We know he's British."
"Dinner's ready kids!" Molly announced as plates started to float themselves to the dining table, where the kids were already seated by Arthur, who's siting at the head of the table as always. The lot of them quickly settled themselves down nodded appreciatively at Ginny and Molly as they came out of the kitchen and sat down as well.
"Well, let's eat!" Molly urged and everyone started to indulge on the fabulous food. Having skipped lunch, Alura and Nicholas were starving and they weren't disappointed.
"Fantastic as always, Molly." Angelina praised as the table started to settle into a comfortable chatter.
"Psst! Nick!" Alura whispered. She then showed him the tablet which Nicholas widened his eyes in shock.
"Well, looks like we were wrong…" Nicholas studied the tablet in detail.
"She's coming back?!" Alura said a bit too loudly which caused everyone to look at her curiously.
"Um." Alura hesitated for a second before looking at her twin brother and her tablet repeatedly.
"Show them. They should know." Nicholas urged.
"Well," Alura swiped at her tablet and the hologram formed on top of the dining table, where the kids gasped in awe.
"This is a digital map. I was just checking on Mom, making sure she's okay. We all have digital GPS trackers on ourselves, so that we will know when one of us is in danger, or lying as Mom would imply." Alura elucidated. "We turned off ours before coming here, because we don't want her to come find us and worry too much, but well she didn't turn off hers. She's in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, moving about 450 miles per hour so I'd say she's on a no-maj plane heading to London."
"This just got really complicated." Nicholas sighed and said. "I know you all may want to find her and bombard her with questions, hugs, or punches. But let's not. I may not know much about my mother's past but I do know her, she'd like to come to her own terms. She likes being in control."
"Okay." Harry mumbled. Even if he totally disagreed, he knew Nicholas had a point, a very solid point.
"Lou can I talk to you for a second?" Nick asked purposefully as the twins quickly left their place and went outside to the backyard.
"Holy shit, mate." George started.
"George Gideon Weasley!" Angelina scolded. "This isn't joke time."
"Sorry love." George smiled apologetically. "But holy Merlin mate!"
"Shut up George." This time, it was the youngest Weasley, Ginny who raised her voice.
"Welcome to my life." Harry simply said and continued his meal silently.
—
19th June, 2013 - The Dream Beam, 14 Lakis Close, Hampstead, London, UK
Hermione groaned when she heard somebody entering the room noisily. She has always been an early riser, but after the week's stress, the busy day of travelling, she wanted to lie in, for once.
"Go away." Hermione mumbled, attempting to return to her slumber when she suddenly remembered that she was no longer at home. She was in an abandoned clinic where nobody should know, not even her friends.
With that thought, she immediately jumped awake with her wand immediately in her hands, albite her hair disheveled, her clothes hung onto her tardily, she stood defensively, ready to stun a person if she had to. She quickly treaded towards the door, cautious about the intruder.
"Hi, Mom." A familiar voice broke her stance as she stood there in shock.
"Alura?" Hermione asked cautiously. "What's the middle name of your father?"
"James." Alura and Nicholas replied in unison and Hermione put down her wand.
"You two have a lot of explaining to do." Hermione huffed angrily. "And if you didn't know already, you're grounded, until you turn seventeen!"
"The explaining though, you and us both." Alura replied.
"You could've told me in advance." Hermione scolded.
"And have you stop us? No." Nicholas retorted. "Mom, I love you. But what would you have done if you discovered that nana's name is not Calithea, your surname is not Granger, pops' not your real father, and everything you've been told is a lie?"
"You know." Hermione was shocked to hear her surname coming out from their mouth. Her voice diminished to the sound of a buzzing beetle, yet still clearly heard by every occupant in the room.
"Yes, Mom. We know you're Hermione Granger." Alura confirmed.
"How did you find me?" Hermione sighed.
"A no-maj GPS tracker is sometimes better than tracking charm." Nicholas replied plainly.
"Of course, the GPS." Hermione sighed deeply. "Well, I suppose you got in contact with my friends then."
"They know you're back. Alura was checking up on you on her tablet in the middle of a dinner with them yesterday. And well, the rest is history." Nicholas answered.
"With them who?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"I suppose… everyone? There's Molly Weasley, her cooking is fantabulous. Then the EC Lavender Weasley, your roommate. Her husband, Ron Weasley and their three children. There's Ron's sister, Ginny and her husband Neville Longbottom, they have two kids. Then there's Ron's brother, George and his wife Angelina, and their twins. And there's Harry, everyone's friend." Alura counted with her fingers, making sure she didn't leave anyone out.
"And Molly Weasley's husband Arthur." Nicholas reminded and Hermione was ready to faint. They have basically met everyone, her presence is known. Her mother was right, the past does come back ten times stronger.
They have met Harry.
"Mom, you okay?" Alura asked concerningly. Their mother's face paled in complexion by the minute and she looked as if she would collapse any minute.
Hermione chuckled wistfully. "I shouldn't be surprised."
"Well, we didn't expect that much progress either. The only tie we know of you and your past is your roommate, who turned out to be the Editor-in-Chief of the publication we wanted to post a search ad on." Alura elaborated.
"We've explained our bit Mom. It's your turn to come clean." Nicholas said sternly.
"Have you studied Modern Magical World History yet?"
"Yes, there was a war or something in Britain just about decade ago."
"Precisely." Hermione nodded and she took a seat, afraid that she's going to buckle out if she continued to stand. "How in depth do you know about the war?"
Nicholas eyes his mother curiously. Why is she testing them about Modern Magical World History?
"They named the war Blood Equality Crusade. In 1980 Halloween a prophesied baby survived a killing curse, grew up to fight the extreme blood elitist and dictator Voldemort with his companions, and on the final battle 2nd May, 1998, named the the Battle of Hogwarts, the dictator was undermined and killed by the said boy, his marked elitists and followers also died upon his death because of their link." Alura summarised. The Blood Equality Crusade of Britain was an important topic in class, which went very in depth, even though the names and faces of the warriors were never taught because the warriors themselves refused to be printed on books. This crusade inspired many other places to call out their country's blood elitists and to educate their young about blood equality, as well as raising awareness to pureblood inbreeding, which often caused the condition of Squibs and weaker magical abilities on their offspring.
"Very well. I fought in the war." Hermione simply revealed, not knowing how to drop this bomb without an explosion following close behind.
"YOU FOUGHT IN THE WAR?" Alura exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, Alura. No need to shout. Everyone fought in war then." Hermione reminded her youngest of her manners.
"Well, you were only seventeen!" Alura exclaimed, this time in a suitable volume that did not cause any bleeding of ears.
"Yes, so was many others." Hermione answered as calmly as she could.
"Why is that important?" Nicholas asked.
"Ever heard rumours of the Golden Trio?" Hermione asked again.
"Yeah, the trio, including the prophesied boy who did most of the fighting, and his two best friends. But it's just a rumour I mean, you really can't fight a war with three people." Nicholas nodded.
"It's true. The Golden Trio as they call it. They didn't do all of the fighting, but they were at the centre of it."
"Again, Mom. How is that relevant?" Nicholas asked again sceptically.
"I am a third of it." Hermione simply said. "Ron, myself, …" Hermione trailed off.
"Ron? You mean the Ron Weasley who we had dinner with yesterday?" Alura queried.
"Yes." Hermione nodded.
"Who was the third guy?" Nicholas asked.
"Harry." Hermione whispered under her breath as tears start to fall when the name came out of her mouth.
"Well Harry's the prophesied boy then? He has a weird scar on his forehead." Alura guessed.
"The scar consequential to his survival of the killing curse." Hermione supplied.
"I still don't really get Mom. What's this to do with everything?" Nicholas questioned.
"The world was happy that Voldemort was finally killed, but there are so many of his followers, and many 'neutral' purebloods were unwilling to do harm on their own, therefore being lenient on them. Only his inner circle is marked, so about two dozen of them. But the rest of the death eaters, they are still wandering around free till this moment, because there's no evidence against them, due to the death of the evidence. Most of them are purebloods, so they have a lot of sway in the Wizengamot, the British version of the Sorcerer's Congress and High Warlock Senate at MACUSA." Hermione explained.
"So everything's sugar coated, you mean." Nicholas elaborated.
"Yes." Hermione nodded. "I couldn't have you raised in such a toxic environment. Especially with my level of engagement in the war, and my status as a female muggleborn who broke records of OWLs results and helped defeat a blood elitist whose principles and biases are still favoured by many."
"That doesn't explain you hiding, or not letting us know our father, or you running away, or forbidding us from coming here, or simply just asking questions!" Nicholas was on the verge of exploding.
"No, it doesn't." Hermione agreed honestly. "That's why I've came." She revealed. "Your nana told me that you can run away from your past, but it will always come back ten times stronger when you least expect it."
"She's right." Alura agreed.
"Indeed she is." Hermione nodded. "I did not come here to ask for forgiveness from my friends, my family, you two, that's a luxury. I came here because I realised just because I'm flawed and obnoxious and a coward, the consequences of my mistakes shouldn't affect your lives. That you two deserve so much more." She confessed, her tears now flowing shamelessly down her face.
The twins did not know what to do, for the first time in their lives. Like their mother, they liked to be in control, they liked to plan, even if they know it'll be ruined sooner or later. What differs them from their mother however, is the pint of spontaneity within them. They didn't mind being out of control, because they will find a way to regain it by being spontaneous.
"Well, Alura and I have been staying at the Amba Hotel, room 371. You'll know where to find us." Nicholas concluded, deciding that he couldn't handle this much emotion and this level of zero control right now as he forced his eyes to reabsorb the tears.
"Mom, we love you and all. But we need a little time okay? Just find us when you're ready and mirror us." Alura hugged her mother and left with Nicholas.
—
"You know, I still think we should've let Mom come to her own terms instead of us confronting her." Nicholas said as they were walking down to the Hampstead underground station.
"I mean, it makes so much sense if that's nana and pops' old dentistry, they must've lived nearby. We live in New Hampshire, Hampstead. She clearly couldn't let go of the past." Alura pointed out.
"Well, she maintains all her British traditions at home, we even have a slight British accent, the interior of our home basically spelt Britain with all the teacups and paintings, the lack of rugs and a tea shelve with at least a 100 different kinds of tea for every occasion, and tea cakes." Nicholas added and Alura sighed, how have they never noticed their mom's soul still lies in London?
"Anyways, this has escala-" Alura didn't get to finish her sentence before her vision went blank and she felt herself getting squeezed through a portal.
—
18th June, 2013 - Auburn Chalet, Ottery , Devon, UK
"So, what are we gonna do about it?" Ginny started shortly after the twins left for their accommodation.
"We do nothing." Harry replied.
"Nothing? Seriously Harry? Of all people! Nothing?" Ginny exclaimed.
"Nicholas is right. Hermione likes to be in control, she'll come to her own terms. There's no use of us trying to find her and confront her, that only escalates the situation."
"Look Harry, I get it. It's hard that after fifteen fucking years she decides that she could pop back in here again like nothing has happened. But you can't put yourself in denial! She's back, it's a fact. And we are going to do something about it!" Ginny scolded.
"Ginevra, she left for FIFTEEN BLOODY YEARS! SO NOW YOU EXPECT ME TO GO FIND HER AND SAY 'HEY HERMIONE, WELCOME BACK! YOU BROKE MY HEART!' THEN PRETEND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED?! I AM ENTITLED TO A LITTLE BIT OF DENIAL!" Harry bellowed and Ginny flinched at his words.
"Harry…" Ginny started again.
"I don't care what you do, but We. Do. Nothing." Harry said sternly and stood up before he apparated out of the chalet.
"Always count on Harry to make a dramatic exit." George mumbled as he watched the scene fold out in interest.
"Well, that went well." Neville commented as he fell into a deep thought himself.
"We clearly have no way of finding her, besides the twins."
"We can send out patroni out for them if we ever need them. But other than that, we can't floo call, or get their destination… it's good we know their names." Lavender trying to calm the situation down, seeing as she already had days to accept the change of state in their lives.
"Who was last in the rota?" Neville asked.
"I think it was Lavender." Ron replied.
"So it's your turn then. I can't believe we are to activate the Potter Care Rota again." Neville exasperated.
"I'll just bring him food and shit, even if he won't eat, or talk. I might also leave our Hogwarts box." Ron sighed and leaned back against the sofa.
—
18th June, 2013 - Doe Lodge, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK
A loud, vigorous pop stirred the silent, peaceful forest in the middle of the night. The trees swayed slightly as a man dropped out of thin air, his hair disheveled from the travel.
Walking towards the enormous lodge built between the family of trees, he jogged up the small flight of stairs before muttering a spell, unlocking the door to his home.
The smell of holly, pine and a hint of pear welcomed him into his abode. A little fire immediately lit up with his presence, contributing a smell of hickory to the lodge as well. Harry James Potter has always liked solidarity, it's just the way his life is. From his birth, to all the adventures and crusades he went on just to keep himself alive, more importantly to avenge his parents and his beloved family he found on the way. He has learnt the hard way that everything comes and goes, he was the only constant in his life.
Stumbling around his abode since his promotion to the Thunderbirds (more like an underground auror corp the MoM set up after they finally got their heads out of their asses and finally regard threats, dark evil threat seriously), he made his way into the kitchen and started the kettle on the stove, and reached up to grab his teacup from shelf, along with a packet of Assam Black Tea he acquired from his recent excursion to India for work. It's the strongest tea he had ever tasted, and merlin bless it might be stronger than coffee itself.
Right now, he needed anything strong and bitter.
He knew at this moment, he won't be able to keep his head straight enough for work, seeing as the last time he tried, four of his colleagues got stunned and thrown back to the wall when he felt stressed from the paperwork, and thus began his one month suspension from the Thunderbirds.
The kettle wheezed in completion just as Harry set out the tea leaves exactly as he liked, a pint of Silver Needle White Tea with a handful of Assam Black Tea. He then flicked his hand at the kettle, insulating the surface before he grabbed the kettle and poured boiling hot water into his teacup, forming a dark, strong favoured liquid and waited for the tea to sink in.
Harry stood there, numbed as he waited for the tea to diffuse itself. He stood, forcing his mind blank, but thoughts kept swarming into it, the past he tried so hard to forget, to let go of after he suffered the consequences of dwelling within flooded back into his mind without mercy, his dam now completely broken. He stood there, not just waiting for his tea to be done, but accepting the fact that the lock on a certain door had finally malfunctioned, a drop of tear escaping his emerald eyes unwillingly.
Losing the strength to move any further, Harry took his tea and apparated himself upstairs to his bedroom. Now the Witch Weekly, a previously prestige gossip magazine of the British Wizarding World, which was later overtook by Ginny's Enchantress magazine had done at least dozens of articles speculating how the home of The Boy Who Lived looks like. Some say he must live in a ethereal manor on top of a mountain, some say his master bedroom alone is larger than one's average house and some say it resembles a muggle abode because of his heritage.
Well, they aren't all wrong.
Harry James Potter's bedroom isn't something people would normally imagine. In truth it definitely isn't your average sized bedroom, with an enormous en suite bathroom and a rarely used walk in closet too large for his liking. A california king bed stood in the middle of the room with messily made sheets. just across the room is a nicely sized sofa in hazel staged in front of a wall mounted television, as well as a small fireplace for floo calls and warmth. A pair of doors painted in pale azure colour, almost white over red alder hung in the middle of the room, facing directly at the bed, providing a much needed privacy for the saviour, albite living alone.
Harry walked towards his couch in a sigh and sat down, stirring his cup often while the TV played some random comedy sit-com that was showing. Whatever was on though, it helped Harry calm his mind down and not burn his lodge down in an inevitable emotional outburst. He quietly sipped his tea and allowed his mind to go blank, his bright, trademark emerald eyes became unfocused for the first time in many years. His job had always prevented him from spacing out, having to pay attention and be alert at all times. Tonight, he let his mind wander anywhere it'd like, even if he had to admit his own vulnerability.
Usually, when he allows his mind to wander off free, it only ends up in one destination.
—
17th January, 1998 - The Tent, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK
"Harry, how much supplies do we have left?" A girl asked while she was going through notes in a worn out notepad.
"Well, should probably last us for another week." Harry shrugged as he set the kettle on the stove and silently. "Hermione, by the way," He started again. "Should we go check out the surroundings later today? Maybe we would find a lake and catch some fish there?"
"That is…" Hermione looked up from her notepad in pleasant surprise. "That is actually a very good idea. I do remember somewhere in the forest there's a lake."
"You're saying as if I never came up with any good ideas." Harry mumbled under his breath, but smiled nonetheless.
"In honesty?" Hermione confessed. "No, never. Your ideas excel on getting yourself into trouble, or worse killed."
"I thought the worse we could do is get ourselves expelled?" Harry teased.
"Oh honestly!" Hermione exasperated and rolled her eyes.
"Accept it Hermione, it's never going away." Harry smirked.
"Boys and their ridiculous logic." Hermione cursed under her breath and continued to go through her notes.
"Mmhm, a ridiculous logic who managed to teach you to cook properly. You of all people." Hermione scoffed and sent a mild stinging hex at Harry's arm in protest.
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed and threw both of his hands up in surrender. "It's not my fault you can't cook! Not everyone's perfect!"
"Merlin Harry! If you don't zip up and go to the shut the goddamned kettle up, He won't be the one to kill you!" Hermione glared and Harry quickly lifted the kettle of the stove, stopping the screeching sound whilst mumbling a soft 'sorry' under his breath.
"Tea?" Harry offered.
"Thanks. Do we still have those white tea you picked up at the last raid?" Hermione
"Well, better save some for shitty days in the future, but we still have like seventeen or so packets from the big tin." Harry replied. "Milk?"
"No, thank you. I'd rather liked my new discovery of how asians drink tea without milk. It's quite refreshing."
"Well it wasn't refreshing when my aunt made us all drink earl grey without milk because of Dudley's diet." Harry mumbled as he sat down with Hermione's cup of tea.
"Ooh, earl grey without milk." Hermione furrowed her brows in disapproval as her pen glided along the pages.
"Thanks." Hermione smiled and turned the notepad towards Harry. "I think we might need to go on a magical raid and stock up on medical supplies. We're almost out of dittany and we might need more blood replenishers."
"Cool. Maybe we could get nutrient potions too, you know? For when we don't have enough food? And medical alcohols from muggle pharmacies?"
"Two good ideas in a row." Hermione remarked as she jotted down all the medical supplies they'll need.
"C'mon, let's pack up and take a look around the threshold." Harry stood up as he gulped the last bit of his tea down and started to levitate everything back into cupboards, and locking it up with a chain so nothing would fall out from within Hermione's pouch. Hermione also stood up after she finished scribbling and stashed her books into the bookshelf, securing it with a mild sticking charm and folded up the sheets on their cots. In ten minutes, they were all packed and stood in the middle of a pine tree forest, ready to examine their new hideout.
"We used to camp by lakes, or at least near one. Sometimes we'd rent a cabin. But I think we're pretty far inland this time." Hermione started as they walked blinded along the forest, pushing some shrubs out of the way as they go along. "It's probably an untouched part of the forest, seeing as there's no footpaths."
"Well, we could get lucky and find a lake inland." Harry suggested hopefully as they proceeded carefully.
"Quadriga." Hermione muttered as a golden line pointed them backwards.
"Well, that means we're heading south." Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in concentration, trying to recall any numerous tomes she had read had mentioned anything about finding water.
"Hermione! Look!" Harry called out from somewhere Hermione couldn't pinpoint.
"Harry?" Hermione asked confused as she looked around for his voice.
"Up here Mione!" Harry called again as Hermione looked up to see Harry on his broom.
"Merlin Harry! Someone could find us with you hovering in the air!" Hermione scolded and Harry slowly descended.
"I found us a lake didn't I?" Harry raised his eyebrows in challenge as he hopped off the broom and resized it to fit in his pockets.
"Idiot." Hermione cursed as they walked towards where the lake is.
"We could settle somewhere in between the trees, you know? Close to the lake but still hidden well." Harry proposed.
"Sure, let's see if we get lucky with the fish." Hermione nodded as they approached the open area with a decent sized lake.
"Vita deprehendere" Hermione mumbled and the sea glowed a bright purple, as well as some parts of the trees and of course, Harry and Hermione as well.
"Woah Mione. What's that all about?" Harry asked curiously.
"Vita deprehenderere. Detect life. It's a life detection spell used by healers and magical hunters." Hermione explained. "Well, we now know there's actually something living down the lake so we won't be wasting our time fishing nothing."
"Always the genius." Harry smiled and smirked. "Accio trout!" About a dozen fish were yanked out of the water and dropped by Harry's feet.
"Smartass." Hermione returned. "Somnum." Hermione pointed at the batch of trout they 'caught' and put them to sleep.
"Let's get our dinner back to the tent then." Harry prompted as they walked back inland, and stopped when they were invisible from the lake but the lake's still visible from their point of view. Hermione quickly fetched the minimised tent from her pouch and spelled it to return to normal. The tent expanded and fit just in between two pine trees.
"I'll go cast the wards, you can cast defensive spells wandlessly right?" Hermione double checked.
"I'll manage. I'll set everything up then. Oh! And give me the locket." Harry requested and Hermione reluctantly took off the locket, knowing that Harry had carried the locket for a whole night yesterday because he didn't want to wake her up for her shift. Harry then went back into the tent, wearing the locket around himself.
It's around twilight when Hermione finally returned to the tent. Harry was pacing around the tent then, worried sick about her and what could've happened to her.
"What did you say to me before I went through the black fire in our first year?" Harry questioned cautiously.
"Books and cleverness? There are more important things- Friendship and Bravery and be careful." Hermione replied calmly.
"Where the hell have you been Hermione?" Harry asked frustratedly.
"I'm sorry. It just took longer than I expected to set up the wards. And I picked some berries along the way." Hermione said apologetically.
"Next time just I don't know? Patronus me?" Harry calmed down and sighed.
"Okay." Hermione grimaced and put her wand back into her holster. She then turned the radio on and started to cook up a decent dinner with the fish they caught, only to have nearly burn herself.
"Let me do it Hermione, you're gonna burn yourself. You seriously need to learn your way around the kitchen." Harry took the turner away from Hermione and took over cooking the fish. Hermione then smiled slightly before she returned to her books, and tidied up the bench for dinner.
"Today's special, sauté trout." Harry sat down on the bench and placed the frying pan down, along with two plates.
"Gorgeous." Hermione smiled slightly and started to dig in. Seeing Hermione's satisfied smile, Harry also dug in, anticipating one of their more nutritious and tasteful dinners of their runaway.
"We need to find a way to get rid of this locket. We're bound to go insane now that it's only the two of us wearing it in long shifts." Hermione reminded.
"I know." Harry nodded solemnly. "Well, we blew our last shot at Godric Hollow. Where in the world would the sword be now?"
"Gringotts?" Hermione suggested.
"Well we can't break in there can we now?" Harry challenged.
"I have no idea then." Hermione said dejectedly and ate the rest of her dinner in silence, not wanting the argument to escalate. They quickly finished their dinner in silence and Harry sent their dishes to the sink, where he then charmed it to do the dishes. Harry then went back to his cot and lied down, just thinking about everything, wishing for some solidarity.
Hermione on the other hand decided to drown in knowledge and information, with the muggle radio softly playing in the background. She didn't notice at first, that tears were leaking through her hazel irises and onto the yellow parchment of her current read, but as the blotches start to accumulate on the parchment, essentially blurring some of the words, she quickly rubbed her eyes discreetly and chocked back a couple of sobs. She thought after lunch that things were finally starting to return to normal, a new normal. she felt that Harry and her had settled into a comfortable new routine, a new pace that both of them could live by.
Harry on the other head, reflected on all the events that happened recently. It was as if yesterday him and Ron had the biggest fight in their history, and that he had left without another word, besides huffing and cursing. It was as if yesterday he had stayed up countless of night, hearing Hermione cry herself to sleep. It was as if yesterday they had went to Godric's Hollow and got tricked by a sly Nagini. Had their deep friendship not matter to Ron anymore? He always knew that one day Ron's jealousy of his life would get the better of him, but the outburst was unprecedented, they were animalistic, as Hermione had scolded. How was both him and Ron this naive, their heads way up their arses to notice their mutual best friend cried herself to sleep every night, that she had to suffer the consequences of their stupidity, having to choose between one or the other.
How do I, get through the night without you?
The radio softly sang underneath all the tension. LeAnn Rimes' soulful voice lingering within the tent gently.
If I had to live without you,
what kind of life would that be?
He slowly heard a second voice to the radio, humming softly as the song goes along. It might be slightly off key, her voice very different from the radio's, but her voice was angelic, it was almost heavenly as he listened to it intently.
Oh, I
I need you in my arms, need you to hold.
Harry grinned lightly at the soft humming, making a remarkable new discovery about his best friend. Thinking of all the things his best friend had sacrificed for him and Ron, he realised how ungrateful him and Ron had been, taking her presence, her help and her loyalty for granted.
You're my world, my heart, my soul
Deciding to do something about it, Harry stop up and walked purposefully towards where Hermione was reading. There were no words exchanged as he held his hand in front of him and Hermione looked up from her book, realising what Harry had meant. Hesitantly, she bookmarked her book and put it down beside her, before gently placing her hand in Harry's, allowing him to lead her to the small space between the cots and they started to sway gently.
If you ever leave
Well, baby you would take away everything
Hermione looked at Harry curiously. While not disliking the idea of dancing, she wondered what had prompted him to do so, given the fact that he himself had resented dancing since the Yule Ball. She looked into those bright emerald green orbs of his, searching for answers, only to find none. She continued to search for answers through his face, every single twitch of his eyes, a tiny quirk of his eyebrows, the barely noticeable uplift of his face.
They continued to sway along the song, although both of them have let themselves loose a bit more, the initial awkwardness, hesitation and confusion fading away as they immerse themselves in the moment. They started to dance more nonchalantly as if they were just two teenagers somewhere in the world, without any looming threat or extravagant responsibilities following them around. Harry twirled Hermione playfully who chuckled at his cheekiness as they continued to dance around, even if the song playing behind was eloquently sang.
How do I ever, ever survive
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live
The song was coming to a close, and they both seemed to know that, their dancing now less spontaneous and playful, and more like the swaying they started off as. The previous laughters also died down, as LeAnn Rimes's voice softened to conclude the song.
How do I live without you, baby?
How do I live
Hermione looked up to meet Harry's eyes as they swayed silently, the music fading away as commercials started to pour in. But neither of them seemed to have noticed the transition, their eyes fixed, their minds locked in the moment. Their gaze fixed, Harry searched Hermione's hazel eyes for answers, answers for questions he had yet to admit to himself, answers to questions he had yet known to ask. He probed through the infinite depths of her eyes, her beautiful eyes, unlocking a door that neither of them knew was even there.
A moment of complete void dated and the next thing they knew, their lips were touching. Their hearts were walking through a pit of glazing fire as they continued to kiss, expressing the most intimate emotions through the collision of their lips. The small bite from Hermione, the little graze of Harry's tongue on her lips unleashed a feeling completely new, it was passionate, heartfelt, maybe even borderline fervid. At the moment, they only know to feel, and not to think, because if either of them even think, they would have to face the consequences of their spontaneity.
They didn't know how, nor they remember how, it was as if an eternity later, Hermione's back touched the thin mattress of the cot as Harry hovered over her. The tent sweltered with emotion, rising the centigrade of the tent to an unknown. Their lips slowly moved away from each other as they explored the uncharted waters of each other's ocean of emotions. Their pants echoed through the tent and into the silent, peaceful night. It was passionate, so passionate, perhaps desperate as they boarded the one way trip to heaven, their hands everywhere. Neither of them dared to speak, as they gazed into each other's ethereal orbs, conveying silently. They knew, if anyone ever spoke, ever violated the unspoken rule, they would have to face reality herself.