Chapter 59 – No retirement without Rita!

Hugo sat in a further off aisle in the library, hidden behind a stack of books, as he tried to finish his essay on the Pepper-up Potion and the dangers of its overuse.

Since he had noticed his mother laughing with Malfoy, here in the library, while working on his assignments days ago, his focus had been elsewhere, and he had nearly forgotten it.

So when he heard his mother's voice from behind him he wheeled around in shock, sure he had misheard.

"Hello Hugo."

But there she stood, her voice the same, but looking so different from how he remembered.

There was a patient air around her he hadn't associated with her, since she lost her memories. Her clothes were muggle, simple jeans with a dark blue pullover, and her hair was tamed in a braid, something he had never seen his mother with. It made her look somehow younger.

"I have to apologise to you Hugo." Hermione murmured and smiled down at her child sadly.

"The last few months I was not in a healthy state of mind. I can't take it back, but I hope you'll accept your birthday presents, even if it's a bit late."

In her hand she held a package Hugo hadn't noticed before.

"I didn't know what you like, so I asked around. It looks like you are the only student that doesn't fall asleep while in Professor Binns' lessons. I found his lessons to be droning, but very interesting myself. Sadly he always leaves out some topics because they aren't in the lessons plan. I know it changed since I was in school, but..."

"Mom?" Hugo tried to interrupt her monologue, but Hermione carried on.

"I asked Headmistress McGonagall to explain to me what changed and she was really helpful. They just added a little bit about the wars, not much, just to make sure it doesn't happen again anytime soon. So many died."

"Mom!" This time Hugo nearly shouted and Hermione froze. She blushed, when she noticed that she had rambled about. Thinking about the war had made her lose focus, and she could feel herself tremble. She was here for this child, her son, he was what was most important now, not the old memories overwhelming her, she reminded herself. His voice broke her spiralling thoughts and made her bit her lip to centre herself into the here and now.

Hugo looked embarrassed to have shouted and looked around to make sure no one had heard him, but they were alone.

"I hope it helps you." Hermione finished with a blush in her face and a shy smile. It was obvious she was insecure, but she would stand by her decision.

Unsure how to take his mother's new behaviour, Hugo watched her, and took the package in silence. He didn't rip the paper, but opened it with care to keep the gift wrap intact.

Inside he found two books he had never seen in the Hogwarts library, and he had spent a lot of time here since the start of term. 'Magical creatures and the wars against them' and a small journal without a title on it. He opened it, and only found a handwriting he didn't recognise: For Hugo.

"I charmed it with a protean spell. That way you can always reach me. Most things I know about you I know by hearsay, something I want to change. You and your sister are strange to me, but you are my family. Whenever you want to talk please knock on my door or write. I can't promise much, but I will try my best."

Hugo blinked away a tear and bit his lower lip just like Hermione always did. He still felt hurt by her, but Hugo wasn't one to be resentful and logical he knew that he couldn't blame his mother for forgetting. Hell, he couldn't even recognise her handwriting anymore, it had changed so much. Still, that didn't keep him from hurting. He cradled the books against his chest and thought about the conversation he had with his father the night of his birthday.

Could he try again, like he had before Christmas? She had never turned away from him when he reached out, but it had felt hollow to talk to her. She had been curt, sometimes cold and he had felt like she had not listened to him in the way she had when he was a child. Like he never had her full attention. She was there, but not really.

Not the way he had seen her with Scorpius Malfoy. He had never hated the boy like his father or sister did, just because he was the Malfoy heir, but now he hated him for his own reasons. The boy stole his mother from him and he wanted to make him pay for keeping the woman that replaced her to himself. He and his mother had planned to write letters every day, she was his best friend, his confidant, and now he felt alone.

Hugo had made no friends since the start of the year, the only person he talked to regularly was Lucy. His sister acted strange and now she spent most of the time with her boyfriend and his other cousins had not too much interest in the youngest member of the Weasley family.

The strange loner that loved to talk about books and history, that was him. Lost in his thoughts he nearly missed his mother's whispered good bye.

"I'll leave you to it. You can write me whenever you want Hugo."

Still unsure what to say he nodded in silent and watched her back until she vanished around the corner. Looking down at the small book in his hands he got up to find some tome to research the protean spell she mentioned.

XxX

Her retirement hit the wizarding world like a storm. Three months after the Minister of Magic had vanished from the public eye it was official. The Prophet stated some health problems and quoted the Wizengamot statement in the early morning. Of course one Rita Skeeter took it as her clue to speculate about the rumours of Hermione's virtue in her column.

Love affair makes Minister retire

Earlier this morning the Wizengamot resigned their appointed Minister of Magic Mrs. Hermione Granger-Weasley for unknown reasons. For the last three months not much was seen from her, but Rita Skeeter found out some juicy details, dear reader. Her husband Ronald Weasley was seen in bad mood from time to time but chose not to answer any of our questions. He had tears in his red rimmed eyes most of the time, making us believe something bad has happened.

Old friends of the couple stated earlier this week that Hermione had moved out of their shared home and that a divorce was in the air. She seems to have moved in with her lover over the last months and left Mr. Weasley to nurse his heartbreak at the pub he was seen at frequently.

Enquiry at the Ministry confirmed the suspicions for us today. The divorce between Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger was granted nearly two months ago, but was kept under wraps. Did Mr. Weasley find out about his ex-wife's wild affair and made her hide to take over her assignment?

Stay tuned dear readers, this reporter will find out everything for you.

Rita Skeeter