A/N So much has happened since I started this story. Jobs and moves and pandemics and just life in general. I've even had a FIFTH child (I swear this is the last one) who is now six months old. I wrote this chapter months ago when I had some down time but honestly hated it and scrapped it twice before revising it twice more and settling here. I am still not sure I'm happy with it, it's mostly filler so I don't know why I've worried so much about it. Maybe just writer's block. But I'm happy enough with it to publish, so enjoy the much awaited 14th chapter!
The day dawned early for Hermione. She woke before her alarm and sighed as she realized there was no point in attempting to sleep more. Instead, she sifted through the papers on Ginny's desk, finding her sketch of the Forget-Me-Nots. Most of her idea was based on combining multiple methods of memory retrieval already in use. A note scribbled down wondered what her parents' brains would look like on a muggle imaging machine and if that could help her find the solution. Another posed the question if adding her own memories to theirs through some use of a pensieve would work to unlock their own. None of the ideas were concrete, only starting points really.
Thinking about Bill replying to her letter was making her heart pound like it hadn't in months. She was hopeful and it felt dangerous to dwell on it. Instead she stuffed the drawings back into the desk and started getting ready for her day. There was no knowing how long it would take, she didn't even know where he was currently. Last she remembered hearing he and Fleur were staying at Shell Cottage but with Bill's line of work it wasn't unlikely that he had been assigned out of the country. It would be better to forget about it and have it be a happy surprise when she finally gets an answer.
Her day went on as normally as it could with the anxiety of knowing that soon their working trio would soon be a duo. Charlie and George both seemed to feel the same and so the morning was quieter than usual. It was midweek and not many customers were around so Hermione found herself being sent home early again after spending most of the morning brewing. She decided to take advantage of the extra time and instead of going straight to the Burrow, she exited via the front door and started walking.
It didn't take long before she arrived at her destination, Eeylop's Owl Emporium. She felt terrible for intruding on Percy before and wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. She had a tidy sum saved up from her wages considering Molly wouldn't let her pay for anything around the house so she could convince herself it was a good investment. Wandering the cages, she finally came upon a very stately looking Great Gray Owl. Immediately she loved her intelligent eyes and gorgeous feathers. She paid for the owl, a large beautiful silver cage and some treats before stepping back out into Diagon Alley with a grin on her face. Walking back towards WWW, she tried to think of a name but nothing seemed quite right. As she stepped through the floo into the Burrow and then made her way up to Ginny's room, she vowed to find one perfect for her soon.
After settling in the beautiful owl she wasn't quite sure what to do. She had no other errands to run and the only people she spent time with were either working or at Hogwarts. Her thoughts trailed back to her parents but she decided quickly that keeping occupied was better. Figuring her new companion would appreciate some room to stretch she sat down and wrote a letter to Ginny. She kept it lighthearted but knew the other girl would probably read through her omissions anyway.
Opening the window she finally found inspiration for her new pet's name. It was a new day, with new hope, and with any luck a new beginning.
"Eos. Greek Goddess of dawn. A new start for the two of us. Whatever that brings with it. What do you think? Can you live with it?"
The owl cocked her head, seemingly thinking before dipping her head once in affirmation. Delighted she fetched a treat from her bag and rolled up the letter she had for Ginny.
"This is for Ginny Weasley, at Hogwarts. Don't worry about waiting for a reply, she'll send one along with a school owl I'm sure." She patted the owl's head tenderly before taking her out of the cage and over to the window.
"Enjoy stretching your wings, you've probably been in cooped up in that shop for a while. Just be back before tomorrow okay?"
The owl gave her one more dip of her head before taking off into the late afternoon sunlight. She watched as she flew until she couldn't spot it any longer and sighed before loosely closing the window so she could nudge it open later when she returned. Eos seemed to take to her well, she just hoped she wasn't pushy when delivering a letter or rude and nippy like some she'd come across.
Deciding to head downstairs and possibly help with dinner she was surprised to find Charlie sitting at the table chatting while his mother flitted about the space. She nodded to him and sat down to join the conversation, hoping it would keep her thoughts away from his impending departure and the letter to Bill.
"Who's owl was that that left a bit ago?" Charlie asked as she settled into her seat.
"That gorgeous girl is mine as of this afternoon, we're already best friends." she beamed at him proudly, elbowing him when he laughed.
"I'm being replaced with an owl?" Charlie asked incredulously. "I thought I was your best friend!"
"Don't let Harry hear you say that or he'll duel you for the title." Hermione laughed as she watched his brow furrow clearly wondering if he'd win the duel with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Clearly he decided that he wouldn't so he just shrugged and said "I'll settle for second-best friend I suppose."
They both laughed heartily and she was glad that whatever was between them, or not between them, wasn't going to make it awkward. She was grateful for his laid back demeanor and ready jokes, it made him easy to trust and easy to be around and probably what she would miss the most when he was gone.
Molly seemed to find the interaction between them amusing as when Hermione finally looked over at her she had a sly smile on her face watching the two of them banter. Hermione smiled back at her and felt the same rush of fondness for the woman she did last night when they had spoken. Here, in this moment just sitting in the Burrow kitchen like she had so many times before, she could finally feel like maybe somehow the world would right itself again after everything that had happened. If Molly could find her way in the world after having lost Fred, maybe she could too.