A/N: Hello everybody, so if you hadn't read the first chapter when it was posted or during the first day then you might not know that this was a one-shot originally. So I decided that since I left a lot of things open-ended, I would continue and change it from a one-shot to a short story. Support is always appreciated. Now without further ado, on with the story!
One Year Ago
Shifting, she nodded unsure. "I need you to promise me that no matter what you'll be happy and that you won't regret anything."
Still unsure, she replied. "Already done."
Nodding, Lord Potter glanced at Ron before lowering his eyes and turning and leaving the room.
"Alright love, I'm gonna go fill out the papers to have you discharged, I'll be right back." Ron stood and leaned down to give Hermione a quick kiss before he stood and exited the room.
A few minutes later, Ron returned. "All good to go. You ready?"
"Let's go." Getting off the bed, Hermione stood and exited the room behind Ron before they both made there way to the floo and disappeared in green flames.
The next day two people appeared outside of the Burrows wards before entering the grounds. Walking into the house, they were greeted by Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh Hermione, I heard you were in St. Mungos, are you alright dear?" Mrs. Weasley questioned.
"I'm fine, thank you Molly." Hermione answered, choosing to leave out the events of the trip.
"Well, we're just glad your okay." Molly ensured, as someone made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Hey Hermione, its good to see your alright. I heard what happened. Oh did you happen to see Harry there? I have to talk to him." George asked as he went over to one of the cupboards to grabbed a cup.
"No he was busy." Ron cut in quickly before she had a chance to answer.
"Alright that's odd but okay. I'll give him a visit. See you guys later." George finished his drink before he left the house and they could all hear the distant sound of apparation.
"Harry, you here man?" George called out after he entered the study.
"Yeah, give me a sec." called a voice from down the hall. A minute or so later, Harry entered the office to find George at his computer pressing buttons. Crap, Harry thought
"Um Harry?" George looked up at him suddenly unsure.
"Yeah George?"
"Wanna explain this?" He turned to laptop to face Harry showing him what he wanted explained. An apartment was up on the screen, as was a bank account and in the background there was the pictures from before.
"No." Harry replied shaking his head. "What were you even doing on my computer in the first place?"
"Wanted to see the time, hit the touchpad and voila I found a lot more than the time. So a high rise apartment, in Canada. And incriminating pictures of Ron and some woman. I just can't figure out how they connect." George confronted.
"They don't, well not exactly. Look it doesn't matter anymore."
"Why? Because you're leaving so you don't have to deal with it?"
"That's not why I'm leaving." Harry seethed.
"Really because it looks like. If that's not why, then why?"
"I'm just looking for a change of pace." Harry lied.
"Why? Do you know what Hermione or Ron would say if you just up and left? Or anyone else? Why?" George asked confused.
"Because she told to go back to my everyday life but you know what having someone you love not know who the hell you are is kind of a downer. Not being able to be with her is one thing but you and I both know that one day even just being friends wouldn't be enough. Now I can't even be that." snapped Harry. Instantly, George caught on. He was one of the only other people that knew about his feelings for Hermione. George always knew, he understood.
"Wait, what'd you mean, 'not know who the hell you are'?" George asked warily.
Sighing Harry explained. "Botched memory charm apparently. At least that's what the healer thought. Can't think of any other explanations."
"And it made her forget you. Who would do that?"
"To be honest, right now the only person I can think of is Ron." Harry admitted
"Ron?! Why the hell would he do that? Let me rephrase that, what happened?"
"She found out, exactly what you just did. Well not the apartment, that wasn't a thing until now. This." Harry said as he moved to stand next to George before turning the laptop to face them, and hit a few keys, causing all of the forwarded pictures to appear overlapping one another. George bent slightly to get a better look at them, and while he did, Harry moved over to George's left and opened one of the draws and pulled out a few papers and sat them on the desk next to the computer.
Tearing his eyes from the screen, he picked up the papers, reading them quickly before looking back and forth between the pictures and the papers.
"She saw this?" George asked quietly, turning his head to look at Harry.
Nodding Harry answered. "Yeah, I went out and left the stuff out and open not thinking anyone would come here but she did. And when I got back, she was sitting here still looking at everything. I answered her questions but it didn't end well. I broke." Harry admitted.
"You told her?" George exclaimed.
"Not on purpose, she was pushing and I kind of just blurted it out! She nodded but it seemed more like a reflex. She left and that was a week ago. Every time I tried to visit she wasn't as home. Couldn't find her. And then Ron comes in here yesterday, telling me to get to St. Mungos and I go and she doesn't remember me." He explained.
"She didn't remember anything about you?"
"She wanted me kicked out of the room." Harry remarked.
"Wait, you said you were at St. Mungos?" George asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"When I asked if you had been earlier, Ron said that you were busy and that you weren't. I found it odd but I had no reason to question him." George recalled.
"Huh, okay either way. None of it matters anymore. I'm leaving and I need a favor."
"Okay?"
"Look after her. If it really was Ron, make sure she stays safe. And if it was, kick his arse."
"You got it but I'll leave the kicking arse part to you. So this is goodbye?"
"Not yet, you came here for a reason. What is it?" Harry remembered.
"Oh right, I was going to ask you if know when Ginny's next game is."
"Uh no sorry mate. Bill might know?" Harry suggested.
"Thanks, I'll give him a try." He replied before turning and pulling Harry into a hug. "I'll see you later mate, remember not matter what you're always my little brother." George mumbled into his ear. Harry nodded in return. "Always."
Pulling away, George nodded and made his way to the fireplace, stopping he glanced at Harry and said. "Stay in touch." Once Harry nodded, George back to face the fireplace before throwing the powder in and being swept away.
"Always." Harry said quietly in the empty room. Turning he gathered up his laptop and papers before putting on his sling bag and returning to finishing his packing arrangements. This would always be his home, but what's wrong finding another one? Everybody needed a little change.
WDYDW
Present – Nearly a year after the incident
After spending the day at the Burrow, Hermione and Ron returned to their own homes. Hermione in her parents old home, and Ron to his flat.
Arriving home, Hermione began going about finishing up her day. Not much later, she retired up stairs and entered her bedroom. Changing her clothes she slipped into bed and turned the lights off before rolling over and going to sleep.
"Where have you been?" Hermione said as she and Ron jumped up from their seats on the steps.
"We thought you went to the forest." Ron said.
"That's where I'm going now." Harry responded as he walked down the steps in between them.
"Are you mad? No, you can't give yourself up to him!" Ron replied following slowly behind Harry as he and Hermione descended the stairs.
"What is it Harry? What is it you know?" Hermione questioned, approaching him once he stopped walking and turned to face them.
"There's a reason I can hear them… the horcruxs. I think I've know for a while. And I think you have too." Harry answered.
"I'll go with you." Hermione pleaded, holding back tears.
"No, kill the snake. Kill the snake and then it's just him." He responded, and she took the last few steps before wrapping him in a tight hug. Harry put his head on her shoulder and looked over at Ron. Pulling away after a minute or so, Harry turned and retreated down the castle stairs and away from them on the landing.
Hermione shot bolt up right, breathing hard. "What the hell?" She breathed. "What was that?"
WDYDW
Past – Nearly one year ago
"Passengers, please buckle your seat belts as we'll be taking off soon. It's a long flight so sit back and relax. Hope you enjoy your flight, thank you for flying International First Class." The pilot cut off and everybody buckled their seat belts before returning to what they were previously doing. Harry leaned back and just went to sleep.
Harry awoke to the sound and the motion of the plane landing. Just in time for the pilot to begin speaking. "Welcome to Vancouver, Canada everyone. We arrived a little ahead of schedule, so good morning and enjoy your stay." The plane eventually came to a stop and the buckle light went off and everyone started standing up and stretching before they went out into the isle and began grabbing their bags from the over head compartment. Standing Harry, grabbed his duffel and made his way to the exit and went into the connector and entered the airport.
Following the signs, Harry made his way to baggage claim and found his bag before he exited the airport. Looking around he spotted a familiar closed bed pickup truck parked waiting for pickup. Going over to it, he knocked on the window and waited. The person got and came around the front of the car.
"Mate it's good to see you!" The man greeted.
"You too JJ. How you been?" Harry replied as JJ took his suitcase and opened the back of the truck and threw it in before closing it again.
"Good man, you got in early!" He replied as he went over to the driver side and got in as Harry opened the passenger side and threw the duffel over the seat into the backseat before he got in and put his sling bag by his feet.
"I know, I slept the entire flight. The time change is what- seven hours?" Harry estimated.
"Yeah about that. It's good to have you here dude. So where's this place of yours again." Pulling out a set of directions from his bag, Harry handed them to JJ. "Alright, yeah okay I know where this is. About a thirty minute drive. So why the sudden move anyway?" He questioned as he pulled out of the spot and followed the sign out of the airport.
"I screwed up JJ."
"Really how so?" JJ questioned curiously.
"Well for starters my best friend and the love of my life doesn't remember me."
"Hermione right?" He wondered.
"Yeah, remember that investigation I had you check into?"
"Uh huh." JJ answered warily.
"Well, it was her boyfriend I was checking into."
"Oh well that's a downer."
"Yeah, the day you sent the information to me, I left a few hours later for about a half hour and when I got back, there she was. Sitting at my desk, looking at the pictures, documents, everything. We had a fight about it which ended in me yelling a proclamation of my love and her leaving. We didn't talk for a week, next thing I know, her boyfriend is in my house telling me to get to the hospital and that something happened. I get there, talk with the doctor and find out that she doesn't remember me, just me."
"Wow, that's rough man."
"Yeah, the doctor said to just hang out and tell her about our friendship. But after the doctor left, I asked what now? And she said, "now you go back to your everyday life, and we go back to ours." She didn't want to know me. Even tried to have me kicked out of the room in the beginning." Harry explained.
"Wait and you just left? You're leaving her behind? Are you joking mate?" JJ asked incredulously.
Turning to look at him, Harry replied. "No, I- I couldn't stay. It's hard enough being friends with her and not being able to be with her but then at least I was still close with her. I was still in her life. I just, I couldn't be there but not be there." He sighed.
"So you thought moving across the pond would make it easier?" JJ wondered.
"I don't know, but I do know that, for the past four years I haven't been unhappy but I haven't been I don't know, satisfied with my life? This seemed like a good time for a new start, there was nothing holding me there anymore." He answered while looking out the passenger window at the passing scenery.
"So you think you'll be satisfied here? In Canada?" He asked skeptical.
"Don't know, that's what I'm here to find out. I want to make a difference and to be honest, here seemed like as good a place as any." Harry answered honestly.
"Okay, but don't go counting me out of that difference making!" JJ joked.
"Wouldn't think of it!" Harry laughed.
WDYDW
Present – Nearly a year after the incident
Turning her head, Hermione looked at the clock on the end table.
"6 o'clock ugh." She grumbled. Knowing she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, Hermione got out of bed and started her day. By 8 o'clock, she was arriving at her office in the Department of Care and Regulation of Magical Creatures. She worked like it was any other day, but her dream kept on creeping back up on her. She couldn't let it go, it didn't make any sense.
Eventually her work day came to an end, and she returned home. After deciding to stay in, she made dinner and read the rest of the night. Once it was time to go to sleep, she cleaned up and went to her room upstairs.
Getting into bed she mumbled. "Let's not do that again tonight." Before she set her alarm and fell asleep.
"Who's that, Hagrid's carrying? Neville, who is it?" Ginny asked as they exited the entrance hall and moved closer.
"Harry Potter is DEAD!" yelled Voldemort.
"NOO!" Ginny yelled, trying to run forward but was stopped by her father.
"Silence!" Voldemort ordered, as everyone continued coming out of the hall and into the ruined square. "Stupid girl, Harry Potter is dead. From this day forth you put your faith in me." He turned back to the large group of death eaters and yelled "Harry Potter is dead!" And they all began laughing along with him.
The scene shifted.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." Hermione asked from the doorway of the compartment.
"No." Ron answered shrugging.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then."
Clearing his throat, Ron began. "Sunshine daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" He finished jabbing his wand at the rat in his lap. Once nothing happened he turned to Harry and they both shrugged.
"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well it's not very good, is it? Of course, I've only tried a few simple ones myself, but they've worked for me." She said, before pulling her wand out and entering the compartment and sitting opposite Harry. "For example, oculus reparo." She said pointing the wand at Harry's glasses. "That's better isn't it?" She asked as Harry removed his glasses and looked at them in awe.
"Holy cricket, your Harry Potter!" She exclaimed as he put his glasses back on. "I'm Hermione Granger. And you are?" She asked Ron.
"Um Ron Weasley." He answered while eating.
"Pleasure." She replied slightly disgusted.
The scene changed again.
"Now if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed, or worse expelled!" Hermione remarked before turning on her heel and opening the door to her left and leaving the two boys standing there.
Again she shot up and began whipping her head back and forth, looking around the room.
"I don't get it… why are I seeing things that didn't happen?"
WDYDW
Past – Nearly a year ago
Pulling up at the apartment building, the truck came to a halt. Opening the door, Harry got out and put his sling bag on before grabbing his duffel from the backseat, while JJ got his suitcase from the bed.
"Thanks." Harry said, as he came around the back of the truck and took then offered suitcase from his friend.
"No problem. Hey, I gotta go. Also, hint of advise, I suggest you get a car soon." JJ suggested.
"I will, see ya mate." They bid each other goodbye and Harry entered the complex. Going up the elevator he arrived at the twenty fourth and twenty fifth floor. There were only two apartments on the whole floor, each was a three bedroom, two bath, super modern loft style setup.
Taking out his key, Harry unlocked the door and entered the apartment setting the suitcase and duffel down by the door as he looked around. It was fully furnished with top tier modern furniture and décor. Picking up the suitcase and the duffel, Harry made his way up the stairs and onto the loft area, which led off to the master bedroom and it's on suite. The other two bedrooms and bathroom were downstairs.
After putting everything down in the room except his sling bag, Harry returned to the bottom level and went into one of the other rooms. It was styled as an office. Removing the bag, he set it in the desk chair before leaving the room.
He planned to make a difference here, and he was ready to. Harry had a meeting with the director of the CDMS, or the Canadian Department of Magical Security. The CDMS was the department in the Canadian magical government that controlled its task forces and government agents.
Calling a taxi, Harry went to CDMS HQ.
"Hello I have a meeting with the director." Harry answered when prompted by the receptionist.
"Of course, he's expecting you. Go right up, floor 10."
Entering the elevator, Harry arrived at the correct floor. Walking into the office, he made his way over to the desk and held his hand you.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Director." Harry offered as they shook hands.
"The honor is mine. Please call me Ryan." He beckoned once they sat.
"Of course. Now, I'm sure you're probably wondering why I wanted to meet with you. I came to Canada looking for a fresh start, the chance to make a difference. So here it is, I want work with your department and incorporate muggle government into this. I think the magical government could get a huge boost if the Department of Magical Security and the RCMP and the CSIS would work together."
"Hm and how do you suggest we go about this?" The director questioned curious.
"Arrange a meeting with the prime minister. I know the prime minister here is aware of magic. And I know the laws here are different than in Britain. That's why, I'm suggesting it here, I'm suggesting the creation of Magical Task Force that works with the muggle Canadian government. They can handle things that might be too dangerous for a non-magical task force to. A group of highly trained detectives and agents that works with a special department in the RCMP and the CSIS." Harry explained.
"To be honest," the director began before pausing to look Harry in the eyes. "I think it would work. You're right it would make a difference. I'm amazed we haven't actually thought of it before. Well actually, a long time ago the idea was attempted and it didn't go so well. Nobody has been willing to give it another shot but I think the risk would be worth the reward. And having a task force of highly trained magical users would be hugely beneficial to both governments. Alright how about this, we work together on this. If the prime minister agrees, I want you as a detective or agent on the force."
"Really?" Harry asked amazed.
"Really, I've heard what you can do. And I think you could be an asset." He confirmed.
"Okay." Standing they shook on it and Harry turned to leave the office but when his hand was on the handle the director called out. "I have feeling working with you will be very interesting. That difference you wanted, I think you'll find it here." Nodding, Harry exited the office and eventually the building.
WDYDW
Present – Nearly a year after the incident
Getting up out of bed not even bothering to look at the clock, Hermione got dressed and disapparated. Arriving at St. Mungos, Hermione went to the counter.
"I need to speak with Healer Stevens or Healer Carter now." Hermione demanded.
"And who are you?" The receptionist questioned.
"Hermione Granger." Nodding the woman sent off a message and a few minutes later, healer Carter appeared out of the floo.
"Hello Miss Granger, please come with me." The healer beckoned and walked down the hall expecting Hermione to follow. Following Hermione entered the room behind the healer and sat on the table at the healers gesture.
"So Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" The healer inquired.
"I've been seeing things in my dreams. Events that happened but not the way I'm seeing them. Why is this happening?" Hermione answered.
"You let him go didn't you?" The healer guessed.
"What?" Hermione asked confused.
"Lord Potter. You let him go. I heard Lord Potter had disappeared and that a proxy was filling in for him but I had hoped it wasn't true." The healer answered.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Hermione questioned not understanding why it was important.
"My guess? The things you're seeing in your dreams are the true events. The way you think things happened is from your mind trying to find reason once Lord Potter was removed from your memory. You knew Lord Potter for nearly twelve years, and eight of those years you lived in the same castle as him. Saw him day in and day out. And you defeated you-know-who wi-." The healer was cut off.
"Voldemort." Hermione interjected.
"See? Even if you don't remember him, he left his impact on you. Your mind is trying to sift through the damage, fix what happened. And you're seeing the memories as dreams." Healer Carter explained.
"And what if some of the memories don't make sense?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"Well, memories out of context are bound to seem odd. Think of it as a puzzle. You're remembering bits and pieces of the puzzle but you don't know what the whole picture is until you have all the pieces." The healer explained.
"So you're saying, that if I want to understand what I'm seeing, I need to see everything?" Hermione asked.
"Basically."
"And I just have to keep dreaming?" She asked skeptically.
"Unless you can track down Lord Potter than yes, right now that seems to be all you can do."
"Why is this happening now?"
"I would say because over the past eleven months your mind has been finding the pieces. Now it's ready to begin putting the together. There could've been a trigger, an event, something. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, mind injuries are not easy."
"It's okay, thank you." Hermione assured before exiting the room and making her way out of the hospital.
Apparating home, she entered the house and saw Ron sitting in her living room sifting through a magazine. He stood as soon as he heard the door.
"Hey, I haven't seen you lately. What's up?" Ron asked as he approached her.
"I've been busy, with work and things. I'm sorry." Hermione lied.
"No it's okay, I understand. Your job is important to you but how about me?"
"You?" She questioned not quite understanding.
"Am I important?" He asked as he came to stand less than a foot in front of her.
"Yes, yes you are."
"That's all I needed to hear." He moved forward and they became flush with one another kissing. Never parting, they moved backwards until the back of Ron's knee's hit the couch and they fell backwards, still consumed in one another.
A while later, they sat up and began the search for their clothes. Once they found them and put them back on, Ron took her hand and led her into the dining room. There the table was set and food was placed on plates with wine and candles.
"What is this?" Hermione asked as she went over to one of the chair and sat.
"This is me making you dinner, I know you've been busy so I wanted to help." Ron answered as he went over to the other chair.
"Well, thank you Ron." She poured the wine and they ate.
After dinner, they cleaned up before saying goodbye.
"Thank you for the dinner Ron, it was very thoughtful." Hermione thanked as they walked to the door.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love you. I'll see you soon." He said with his hand on the handle before leaning forward and stealing a kiss.
"Love you too. Night."
"Night." He exited the house with her closing the door behind him.
She looked around the house, before finishing up cleaning and then taking a relaxing bath. After her bath, she got ready for bed. All the while wondering what was off. The whole time I was with Ron, something felt wrong. She thought. Pushing it away for now, she got into bed, set her alarm and fell asleep.
A/N: So really quick, any of the Hermione dream-memories are borrowed for the Harry Potter franchise and do not belong to me. Also I know the past and present thing might have been a little confusing so for that I apologize if it was for any of you. Now as always, hope you enjoyed. Support is always appreciated. Enjoy, and Happy Reading! -DS