Chapter 33 – Can I still call you Mom?

"I'm Hugo." he told her in a small voice. "Rose's younger brother. She told me you had some memory problems. I was rather worried, so I looked everything I found in the library up. I brought some of the books I found helpful with me. Maybe I can help you with them. And if not, we could talk. You can ask me anything. But maybe Rose already offered. I don't want to impose."

Hugo kept talking when there was still no answer from his mother. All she did was looking at him as if trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted. He only knew what his dad and Rose had shared, which wasn't much, but he wanted to find out the rest. He was way too curious to stay put. What he hadn't counted on, however, was her silence. He knew she most likely wouldn't remember him, but still his mother had always be a warm person, welcoming anyone at their home. She didn't bear grudges or send them away if they had questions. Yes she was a busy woman, always spending many hours at work, even bringing work home to continue it after dinner, but if Hugo approached her, she had always set it aside. He was always proud to say he had his thirst for knowledge from his mother. After spending a few years at a muggle primary school he knew most adults didn't have Hermione Granger-Weasley's patience with his endless questions.

He had learned to keep his head down at school and wait for whoever would raise his hand, then if no-one could answer, he joined in. Of course he knew nearly all the answers even before they covered the topic in class, but he disliked the way the teachers fussed over him and how the other students always glared at him if he was the first to raise his hand.

Maybe he was a bit socially awkward, he knew that himself, but it didn't bother him. He rather kept to himself than join endless chatter over irrelevant topic that didn't interest him.

Spending time at the library to solve a problem was what he was best at and loved the most. That's why he had gone straight there when he had an idea of what was wrong with his mom.

"Okkkk... If it's not convenient now, should I try again later? You look rather tired. Maybe you want to sleep. It's late already. I'm sorry I'll come back tomorrow. Only if you want me to though." Hugo took a step away from the door and blushed a deep shade of scarlet in embarrassment. He almost felt as bad as if he had failed a test and he hated feeling like this the most. Maybe this woman was really different from the mother he knew after all. It looked a lot like he besieged her. He knew better than to be outgoing and ramble on. In his own eyes one of his worst traits. He just never knew when to stop talking.

XxX

The first thing Hermione noticed about her son was that he babbled away when he was nervous. It was something she had happened to do herself when she was still a girl and showed her just how much courage it had taken for him to show up at her door.

"Please come in. I'm just doing some reading myself." she offered with a smile. She hoped she sounded sincere, because she was a bit overwhelmed by her children at the moment. First Rose this morning, which had left her rather rattled, and now Hugo, was a bit much for one day.

"Thank you Mom." Hugo said shyly and then stood rigged right beside her. "Can I still call you Mom?" he asked afraid and went right into an explanation. "I can call you Hermione or Mrs. Granger, or is it Miss Granger now? You just need to tell me!" he nearly shouted with his eyes wide.

"Calm down Hugo. I know I am your mother, so you can call me whatever you prefer."

XxX

A few days later Delphi was seething in Hogsmeade.

These two boys were good-for-nothings. They even lost the time turner. How was she supposed to have her Happy End now? She needed it back and fast. She spent weeks planning this and everything went beautifully until this stupid boy tells her his aunt had taken the time turner from them.

"Albus..." she smiled at the love drunken boy, "I'm sure there is a way for you to get our time turner back from Miss Granger." she caressed his hair a bit while Scorpius said nothing, standing right beside them. He was afraid after he had seen the dark shadows in Delphi's eyes. She was bad news, he had known for quite some time. The tattoo on her back was enormous and he was sure he had seen the motive before in History of Magic. For some reason he knew it was linked to Voldemort, but he kept his mouth shut. Just looking at woman who ran around with a backless top in the middle of the winter in Scotland could prove his reasoning to anyone except Albus. Heating charms were not that strong.

"It's not a problem Delphi. Just trust us. It's not a problem at all. We'll fix it." Albus was babbling on and on, repeating himself. Maybe he had seen the crazy touch Delphi had today or he only wanted her to smile at him again, but the next moment any hope for the second were out the window.

"You don't want to know what will happen if you don't!" she showed her true colours, yanking Albus' hair until he cried out in pain. Then she patted his head and kissed him to smooth his pain, making it look like the short outburst had never been.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you? We don't want your little friend here hurt, do we? Something bad is in his future, if we don't change the past soon." her voice was cold and lethal and her smile showed no warmth when she looked at Scorpius.

"I'll see you next year, have a great Christmas."

She had waited for weeks to be able to approach them unseen. Sneaking around Hogwarts was too risky for her and they hadn't been allowed to Hogsmeade for a while. But now here was her chance. What did she care if they got detention for a week or two? All that mattered was that they did what she wanted. And she wanted him back alive. She was Bellatrix' heir after all, the darkness was in her blood. She thrived in it.

"When spares are spared, when time is turned, when unseen children murder their fathers, will the dark lord return." the word echoed only in her head but she could hear them loud and clear. If it wasn't for the third part she would have done it herself, but it had to be Albus fucking Potter to fulfil the Prophecy.

Laughing darkly she disapparated, knowing the two pubs would do just as told. If not she would send an old friend after them. He had no problems sneaking into Hogwarts, after watching them for weeks already.