Trigger Warning: Hermione talks about suicide. She's not in the best state of mind right now but she is working on it. You have been warned.

August 23, 2004

Hermione's p.o.v

I wipe my tears off again. I was tired of crying. Of being in the Black Lake, drowning no matter how hard I tried to swim to the surface.

"Hermione, have you ever wanted to kill yourself?"

How can you tell someone that sometimes you hate your own daughter? That looking at her hurts every day but not having her close you kills you slowly?

"Hermione, have you ever wanted to kill yourself?"

How can I stand to look at myself when all I ever see is a liar staring back at me? I'm not the woman in the mirror. I'm not this amazing person out to save the world. I'm just a failure trying to do her best to make up for all her mistakes.

I'm just a little girl trying to fit into shoes too big for me.

"Hermione, have you ever wanted to kill yourself?"

"Hermione, have you ever wanted to kill yourself?"

"Hermione, have you ever wanted to kill yourself?"

Yes. Every moment of my life for the past eight years.

Ginny's p.o.v

It was like we were back in Hogwarts. Three people in the It group and I was on the outside hoping to peek in.

Hermione's brat hung to Luna's skirt, hiding away from the stares even as she spoke to Harry. Tom waved them through when he noticed them, "You lot eating or just passing through?"

"Just passing through Tom. We're taking a short walk through the Alley." Harry answered.

Most of the patrons were paying rapt attention to the trio like the gossip-hungry nifflers they were and those that weren't, waited for me to react to their presence.

Calmly I take a sip of my butterbeer.

I refused to give them the satisfaction.

I refused to make a fool of myself as Ron did.

When they passed next to me, I only nod. "Hello Luna, Harry," I side-eye the brat. "Nice to see you looking better Evangeline."

The little girl nodded and I could admit, even if only to myself, that she might have been cute if she weren't Hermione Granger's daughter. I would have done a better job of being her mother and the girl wouldn't be so broken.

Luna gave me her own side look and pulls the little girl closer to her. She wasn't stupid. Luna knew that anyone who saw the girl's eyes could see that she was Harry's and Granger's and Great Britain hadn't been happy with their Golden Girl in years. Not to mention Evangeline was a howler to the world that Harry Potter was no longer mine alone.

Luna nods and answers for the group. "Nice to see you too Ginny. If you'll excuse us."

The trio was going to walk away and I knew this was my chance to fight for Harry and redeem myself to the Quidditch world. "Luna wait please."

"I believe Ron made his thoughts on Hermione clear Ginny," she snapped.

I grit my teeth but lower my head. Luna was right to snap in these circumstances but we were friends once damn her. Couldn't she cut me some slack?

Harry grabbed her shoulder. "Luna stop. We're in public." He murmured glancing warily at everyone staring at us.

"I know Luna. That's why I want to apologize. Ron was out of line talking about Hermione that way."

Luna scoffed. "Please, we both know what you really think about Hermione."

"And I won't even try to deny it." I shoot back. "Hermione left us Luna, not the other way around. But just because I'm still furious that she left doesn't mean they deserve to be dragged into the mud by the likes of Skeeter."

"As if you actually give a damn. You're just here because the Harpies aren't allowed to enter France."

I lift my chin at the accusations. She wasn't wrong. I could care less about her. But I loved being seen as a public image because of my own merits. I would not let Granger taint my fame. "Think what you will Luna, but Evangeline doesn't deserve to be punished for her parents' sins. She's still Harry Potter's daughter."

Patrons nodded with me and began muttering in agreement. Evangeline might be Granger'sbut she was still the daughter of the Boy-Who-Lived and no Brit would mess with that legacy.

Harry grabbed Luna and steered her and the brat away with him. "Thank you for your apology, Ginny, I'll be sure to pass it along. Send my regards to your father." He dragged them both outside the bar and I sit back down into my seat. Harry had clenched his jaw when I mentioned his fame. I had messed up but I could still gain some good press from defending Evangeline and only throwing Granger under the bus because of her disappearance. Let the people think my anger steamed from abandonment issues. For now, that would have to be enough.

Harry's p.o.v

I steer the two away from the Leaky Cauldron. I would need to start avoiding the bar again if every time I so much as stepped through there someone would bring up my "status" as the hero of Great Britain again.

Luna pursed her lips. "I'm sorry you had to see that Harry. I know you love Ginny."

I shake my head. "I don't even know what to think of this latest piece of drama in my life. I'm unpacking today's' bit later. Right now I would like to spend some time with my daughter."

Evangeline raises her arms to be carried. "Up. I want to see everything o pai."

I swing her up to sit on my shoulders. "Then you'll see everything from the best vantage point I can give you."

Eva gasped in delight. "You're taking me flying!?"

I try not to smile. "Err- maybe when you're older." And when your mother won't try to kill me.

Luna laughs like she knew what I was thinking. "Hermione is afraid of flying so definitely when you're older Eva."

Eva huffs. "How much older? I'm six now!"

"Hogwarts age older," I answer. That had to be a safe answer right? Everyone officially learned to ride a broom at eleven.

"But what if I don't go to Hogwarts?"

I laugh. "Your mum is Hogwarts' best student and I'm kind of a celebrity myself. You're going to Hogwarts."

Luna's face flushes a bit and she started fidgeting. "Actually... Evangeline kinda has her choice of school. Any school around the world would be happy to accept her. It's just a matter of where Eva wants to go."

That's right, I think to myself. It was hard to remember Hermione went and made a name of herself around the globe. If the magical world had a Nobel prize, Hermione would have been in every category and won them all. What school would be stupid enough to reject her daughter?

Meanwhile, the only pull I have is Great Britain, and only because I have the shittiest luck in history. What can I offer compared to Hermione who can give our daughter the world?

"Faster o pai! Faster!"

"Don't focus on the negatives. Think about all the positive things you can influence."

Maybe I can give my daughter a little bit of happiness?

August 23, 2004

Noticia Catalanes

Opinion piece by Júan Fernandez

International outrage continues as Great Britain continues its mud campaign against its Charms and Potions Mistress Hermione Granger. Mistress Granger is renowned on the international stage for her work in communications and Baneswolf, the cure for lycanthropy. And yet regardless of her work bringing people closer together, Great Britain continues to baffle me with the continued degradation of their most valuable asset, yes, even more, valuable than their personal superhero Harry Potter. (And not to doubt Lord Potter or anything, he did save Great Britain from the Dark Lord Voldemort.) But regardless of who can be considered more important to the British people, I can not state my confusion enough.

Take away her accomplishments, her reputation abroad, and Hermione Granger is still one of the most important names in the British community. While an entire country hid from a (decidedly insane) megalomaniac, it was mostly children who fought for the country's freedom. So why on God's green Earth is Great Britain attacking its own heroine? The same heroine who even Harry Potter himself says he owes his win to?

Is it her magical parentage? Is it her French heritage? Is it the fact that's she's a woman?

Whatever it may be I'm sure I'm joined by many readers when I ask: what the hell Great Britain?

Is this how the Brits thank their heroes if they're not picture perfect? Even the late Supreme Mugwump, Albus Dumbledore was derided In the years after Lord Potter re-entered the magical world. And death hasn't stopped their irrational dislike of their former leader.

But I digress. Great Britain doesn't want Mistress Granger? That's fine. Spain will take her. So Mistress Granger, if you're reading this, hit me up on my portable floo, we'll communicate with your translation charm, and me and my former werewolves pals will help you move to the most beautiful city the Mediterranean can offer.